Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU researches on sustainable salterns, coastal resilience presented at int’l WPS confab

By Sherlyn B. Nicolas, Contributor

Researchers from Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) presented four significant research papers at the 5th International Conference on the West Philippine Sea (ICWPS) held on August 14–15 at Western Philippine University (WPU), Puerto Princesa City Palawan.

With the theme “West Philippine Sea matters: Sustaining a healthy, resilient, and productive sea and people,” the conference convened 111 participants from 24 provinces and four countries to share initiatives, research, and projects on sustainable management and inclusive growth of coastal marine areas and their communities.

MMSU’s presentations highlighted key findings from two major research initiatives: the ASIN Center project “Development of sustainable and climate-resilient salterns: Best practices, standardization, site mapping, and design of pilot saltern farm” and the Coastal Engineering Research Center’s (CoastER) project “Assessment, monitoring, and prediction of coastal flooding of selected municipalities in Region 1.” Dr. Nathaniel R. Alibuyog, Vice President for Research, Development, and Innovation, leads both.

The ASIN project put forward three papers that advanced the development of sustainable salterns, and the CoastER project presented one that offers innovative approaches to safeguarding coastal communities from flooding.

The ASIN project team members who presented the researches at the ICWPS include Lord Ian Galano, Rodel Utrera, Marinique Guerrero, and Nadine Sharinette Bravo. Present with them is the Chief of Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Dr. Sherlyn Nicolas.

WPU President and ICWPS Co-chair Dr. Amabel S. Liao asserted that the conference serves as a platform for science-based discussions, allowing participants to interact and exchange knowledge, experiences, challenges, and plans for WPS sustainable development.

In his keynote address, Dr. Carey Bonnel, Vice President for Sustainability and Engagement at Ocean Choice International (Canada), emphasized the role of data-driven fisheries management, spatial planning, and governance in protecting Palawan’s resources.

The two-day event also featured seven plenary sessions tackling topics such as integrated multitrophic aquaculture, conservation of endangered marine megafauna, coral reef ecology, marine protected area networks, microplastic pollution, climate change strategies, and community-based project implementation.

The West Philippine Sea, part of the country’s exclusive economic zone and a portion of the South China Sea, is abundant in biodiversity and energy resources yet threatened by overfishing, coral reef degradation, and pollution. These challenges affect not only the marine ecosystem but also commerce and community livelihoods.

Through its research contributions, MMSU strengthens science-based strategies for sustainable coastal management and resilient livelihoods.