SIARGAO ISLAND, Surigao del Norte (November 1) – Beyond its world-famous surfing waves, Siargao is also a sanctuary for life — both human and wild.
The entire island and its surrounding waters form the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS), a 283,974-hectare conservation zone declared in 1996 to safeguard one of the country’s richest ecosystems. It is home to sea turtles, dugongs, saltwater crocodiles, and even the tiny Philippine tarsier.
“Siargao’s natural wealth is both our shield and our source of life. Protecting it means securing our future,” said Jelanie Superada, Ecosystem Management Specialist of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
At the heart of Siargao’s protection are its people. In Halian Island, residents declared their community a 100-hectare Turtle Sanctuary through a local ordinance. Volunteers patrol nesting beaches and help hatchlings reach the sea.
“Endangered na ang turtles. From nesting up to the release of hatchlings, kailangan talaga silang protektahan,” said Genelou Petallo, who chairs the Committee on Environment in Del Carmen.
Another success story is Sugba Lagoon, once plagued by illegal fishing and logging. With cooperation among locals, the DENR, and the local government, the lagoon has become a model of community-led eco-tourism.
Three in ten Siargaonons farm, and one in four depends on fishing. The island’s 10,000 hectares of mangroves — the largest in the country — protect coastal villages from storms and surges. These natural barriers saved lives during Typhoon Odette in 2021.
To sustain these gains, the DENR and local governments are implementing a 10-year management plan balancing development and conservation.
For Siargao’s islanders, caring for nature isn’t optional — it’s a way of life.
“Protecting Siargao is a shared responsibility,” Superada said.
