For generations, life on Apo Island has revolved around the sea. Families rose before dawn to fish, hoping the day’s catch would be enough to cover food, school needs, and the occasional emergency. When tourism picked up, many residents found seasonal work as boatmen or guides — but the income was unpredictable, and the pressure on the island’s fragile marine ecosystem only grew.
Today, the story is changing. Under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., government agencies have been directed to pursue a development model where environmental protection and community wellbeing reinforce each other, a press release from the DENR said.
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna says the mandate is clear: communities living in protected areas must directly benefit from caring for the natural resources around them. “This administration supports protecting the environment — and that protection will last only if it also improves the lives of the people who care for it,” he said.
On Apo Island, this directive has taken shape through a community-centered approach led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Protected Area Management Office (DENR PAMO). The Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape, one of the country’s most iconic marine sanctuaries, now serves as a model for how conservation and livelihood can thrive together.
A key intervention is the empowerment of local organizations. The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) granted clearance to the Apo Island Snorkeling Equipment Rental and Guiding Association (AISERGA) to manage turtle interaction activities — a major attraction for visitors. This formal recognition gives residents ownership of tourism services while ensuring that activities follow ecological guidelines. DENR PAMO also sustains daily operations by hiring 36 local personnel as Protected Area Wardens, Visitor Assistance Personnel, zero waste workers, boatmen, utility staff, dive rangers, and generator operators. These roles provide steady income while strengthening conservation enforcement and visitor management.
The impact is evident in the lives of AISERGA members. Data from the association show that members have stayed an average of 15 years, with some serving for more than two decades — a sign that tourism-linked work has become a reliable livelihood.
For boatman Rimelo Tabaniera, the change has been life altering. “Before, there were days when we had no money for my children’s school needs or for repairs when storms damaged our houses,” he recalled. “Now, when tourists come in, we earn from guiding and renting snorkeling equipment. I was able to continue sending my children to school and slowly repair our home. We also learned that protecting the turtles and the marine sanctuary helps sustain our livelihood.” DENR PAMO says this is precisely the goal: reduce pressure on marine resources by giving residents meaningful, dignified work tied to conservation. When communities benefit from protecting nature, they become its strongest defenders.
Today, Apo Island remains one of the Philippines’ most celebrated marine destinations — a place where sea turtles glide through clear waters and coral reefs teem with life. But beyond the postcard images is a deeper story: an island community proving that environmental stewardship and economic stability can grow together. As visitors continue to arrive, Apo Island’s residents stand at the frontlines — guiding tourists, protecting the sanctuary, and building a future where the sea sustains both life and livelihood.
Apo Island is internationally known for its marine biodiversity, particularly its sea turtles. But behind the steady flow of tourists, many residents have long faced a difficult balance between earning a living and protecting the island’s fragile marine ecosystem.
For decades, families in the island depended mainly on fishing and seasonal tourism work. Income was irregular, and residents often had limited options for stable livelihoods while living inside a protected area.
Recognizing the multifaceted challenges faced by communities living within protected environmental zones, the administration of President Marcos Jr. has issued clear directives emphasizing inclusive economic growth paired with sustainable environmental management.
Cuna says that the President’s directive to government agencies is to create community programs where residents benefit directly from environmental stewardship from local tourism. “This administration supports protecting the environment — and that protection will last only if it also improves the lives of the people who care for it,” he said.
Heeding the President’s call, the government implemented a comprehensive, community-centered solution. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Protected Area Management Office (DENR-PAMO) of the Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape provides various forms of assistance to help alleviate poverty through community-based livelihood support. Key interventions include the empowerment of local organizations, specifically through the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) granting clearance to the Apo Island Snorkeling Equipment Rental and Guiding Association (AISERGA) to manage turtle interaction activities.
DENR-PAMO likewise sustains on-the-ground operations through community-based employment, engaging a total of 36 local personnel composed of Protected Area Wardens, Visitor Assistance Personnel, zero waste personnel, boatmen, utility workers, dive rangers, and generator operators, all of whom contribute to both conservation management and tourism support in Apo Island.
The effects of these programs are reflected in the experience of AISERGA members. Data from the association show members have stayed with the organization for an average of 15 years, with some serving for as long as 22 years, showing how tourism-linked work has become a long-term source of livelihood for many households.
Members said the income they earn from tourism has helped stabilize their daily needs and reduce dependence on fishing alone.
“Before, there were days when we had no money for my children’s school needs or for repairs when storms damaged our houses, said Rimelo Tabaniera, a boatman and AISERGA member.
“Now, when tourists come in, we earn from guiding and renting snorkeling equipment. I was able to continue sending my children to school and slowly repair our home. We also learned that protecting the turtles and the marine sanctuary helps sustain our livelihood,” he added.
DENR-PAMO said involving residents in tourism and conservation activities helps reduce pressure on marine resources while giving communities direct access to livelihood opportunities tied to environmental protection.
Today, Apo Island continues to attract visitors because of its protected marine ecosystem, while residents remain directly involved in both tourism services and the protection of the island’s natural resources.*
