MPIC commits P12 million funding for protection of Tubbataha Reefs

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April 13, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), through its corporate social responsibility arm Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF), is providing P12 million in funding to support the continued protection of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

The funding, equivalent to P3 million annually for four years, will support research initiatives, protection activities and community-based efforts, in partnership with the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board and Friends of Tubbataha Inc.

“Tubbataha is one of the country’s natural treasures and a crown jewel of Philippine marine biodiversity. The private sector can play a meaningful role by supporting conservation efforts alongside government and communities,” MPIC chairman, president and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

He said supporting long-term environmental programs remains a key priority for the group.

“Through this partnership, we hope to help ensure that Tubbataha remains a thriving marine sanctuary for generations of Filipinos,” he said.

The recently signed memorandum of agreement builds on the collaboration established in 2022 under the Shore It Up! Tubbataha program, through which MPIF provided P8 million in support from 2022 to 2025.

The initiative focuses on environmental protection, scientific research, capacity building and community engagement to help safeguard one of the country’s most important marine ecosystems.

Located in the heart of the Sulu Sea, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a 97,030-hectare marine protected area within the Coral Triangle, the global center of marine biodiversity.

It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Wetland of International importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, signifying its exceptional ecological value not only to the Philippines but to the world.

Home to over 360 coral species and hundreds of fish species, the park provides critical habitat for threatened marine life, including sharks, sea turtles and seabirds.

Its remote location, however, presents continuing challenges in enforcement, monitoring and protection.

“For nearly two decades, the MVP Group has championed environmental stewardship through the Shore It Up! Program. Now in its 18th year, the initiative reflects our belief that sustained partnerships and community engagement create lasting impact – not only in preserving critical habitats like Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park but also strengthening the communities and institutions that safeguard them,” MPIF president Melody del Rosario said.