Western Philippines University

Giant clams in Southeast Asia are impacted by overfishing, habitat loss and climate change. To help prioritise pathways for more effective conservation, a multi-stakeholder roundtable applied a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis across three themes: protection measures, mariculture for conservation and multi-stakeholder engagement. Analysis revealed that strong international and national legislations support protection, but weak enforcement, limited funding and low public awareness emerged as persistent barriers. This policy brief, drawing on regional experiences, also underscores the importance of community engagement, financial sustainability and science communication as drivers of inclusive and enduring marine conservation, which may offer lessons beyond Southeast Asia.

The Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG), established in 1963 and managed by the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), operates under a long-standing fee and access policy. In response to initiatives to enhance its ecotourism potential through new amenities, there is a need to reassess existing pricing and access mechanisms to capture the additional value generated by these developments. This study provides an evidence-based framework for determining appropriate fees and access mechanisms for MBG. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) was employed to evaluate alternative policy interventions. Five scenarios representing distinct pricing and access models were developed through expert elicitation and prioritized using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Criterion weights were derived from pairwise comparisons across financial, environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Results revealed that experts prioritized financial (0.34) and environmental (0.30) criteria. The highest-ranked sub-criteria included increased rental opportunities (0.63), the national economy (0.83), and staff capacity building (0.87). While Scenario 4 (with new amenities but one entrance fee for all amenities higher than the approved admission fee >PHP 50, WTP of tourists = PHP 73.79 + PHP 50 = PHP 123.79/PHP 124), showed strong financial potential, Scenario 2 (with new amenities, same entrance fee =PHP 50, but separate access fees for the new amenities) emerged as the most suitable intervention with a superior priority score of 0.70. Field experts favored Scenario 2 due to its significantly better alignment across most sub-criteria, though Scenario 4 remains a viable secondary alternative. Ultimately, prioritizing Scenario 2 establishes a strategic framework for harmonizing financial viability with biodiversity conservation, demonstrating the value of AHP-based decision support for the sustainable management of protected heritage sites.

IntroductionUnderstanding how coastal communities perceive environmental change is critical for designing effective and locally supported marine management strategies. This study examined perceptions of environmental changes over the past 10 years and expectations for the next 10 years among coastal residents of the Cù Lao Chàm–Hội An Biosphere Reserve in central Vietnam.MethodsFace-to-face surveys were conducted with 252 adult residents from mainland and island communities. Participants assessed past and expected future changes in different aspects of the marine environment. Principal component analysis was used to identify the main dimensions underlying these perceptions, followed by confirmatory factor analysis to assess model fit. One-sample t-tests and repeated-measures analyses of variance were conducted to examine perceived changes over time and differences between mainland and island communities.ResultsFour dimensions of perceived marine environmental change were identified: marine resources, seawater quality, aquaculture, and marine habitats. The four-factor model showed acceptable fit. Respondents perceived significant declines in marine resources and aquaculture over the previous decade and expected these declines to continue. Seawater quality was perceived to have deteriorated slightly, with no clear improvement expected in the future. In contrast, marine habitats were perceived to have improved and were expected to continue improving. Perceptions differed significantly between mainland and island residents, particularly regarding seawater quality and marine habitats.DiscussionCommunity perceptions of marine environmental change were structured, place-specific, and broadly consistent across past and future timeframes. Differences between mainland and island communities suggest that spatial context, livelihood dependence, and direct interactions with marine environments shape how environmental change is experienced and anticipated. Integrating community perceptions with ecological evidence may improve alignment between conservation measures and local expectations, thereby supporting more adaptive, effective, and socially accepted marine governance.

The diamondback squid, locally known as “dalupapa,” is a high-value marine species commonly landed in Rizal, Palawan, Philippines. However, essential fishing information remains limited. Hence, this study provides the first documentation of the Thysanoteuthis rhombus (Troschel, 1857) fishery, specifically its focused were on fishing operation, seasonality, bait types, monthly catch per unit effort, gear characteristics, and fishing grounds. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using printed questionnaires from 16 respondents with more than five-year experiences for diamondback squid fishing. All data were processed and analyzed using MS Excel, while fishing grounds were mapped with QGIS software. Fishing operations typically begin between 0300H and 0500H and end between 1300H and 2300H, resulting in a total fishing duration of nine to 18 hours per day. These operations occur five to 10 days per month, totaling 54 to 126 hours of fishing time monthly. Commercial fishing vessels with 3.02 to 9.03 gross tonnage are equipped with 52-160 jig sets, capable of catching 35-400 individual squid. The fishing season spans from February to November, with peak activity occurring between May and September. Commonly used baits include Rastrelliger kanagurta, Exocoetus sp., and T. rhombus fins. Monthly CPUE ranges from 0.03 to 0.08 kg/js/hr. Fishing gear typically consists of two jiggers attached to a hanger, with a 545 m long mainline connected to three Styrofoam buoys. Most fishing grounds are located in the southern part of West Philippine Sea waters. Further research is recommended to deepen understanding of the diamondback squid fishery in Rizal, Palawan.

Purpose: A quantitative explanatory approach was employed, gathering survey data from MSMEs in food, beverage, herbal, and service sectors. Entrepreneurial religiosity, halal certification practice, MSME performance, and SDG contribution were measured using validated indicators. The hypothesized structural model was tested using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess direct, indirect, and interaction effects. Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative explanatory approach was employed, gathering survey data from MSMEs in food, beverage, herbal, and service sectors. Entrepreneurial religiosity, halal certification practice, MSME performance, and SDG contribution were measured using validated indicators. The hypothesized structural model was tested using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess direct, indirect, and interaction effects. Findings: The model shows that business challenges exert a very strong and significant effect on perceived SDG contribution (beta = 0.901, p < 0.001). Entrepreneurial religiosity significantly improves business performance (beta = 0.453, p < 0.001), while halal certification also enhances performance (beta = 0.192, p < 0.001). However, neither religiosity nor halal certification directly influences perceived SDG contribution, and business performance itself does not significantly predict SDG perception. The tested moderating effect is also insignificant (beta = - 0.017, p > 0.05). Overall, SDG perception is shaped more by external business pressures than by internal capabilities such as religiosity, halal compliance, or performance. Research limitations/implications: The cross-sectional design limits the ability to capture behavioral change over time. The sample concentration in halal-oriented sectors may also limit broader generalization. Future studies could apply longitudinal models, include non-food sectors, or integrate qualitative exploration of faith-based sustainability practices. Practical implications: The study offers actionable insights for policymakers, halal agencies, and MSME empowerment institutions to integrate religiosity-oriented training, halal readiness programs, and performance enhancement strategies in a unified intervention model. Social implications: Strengthening faith-driven entrepreneurship and halal compliance fosters ethical markets, consumer protection, and socially responsible production. It also promotes MSME inclusion in national sustainability efforts aligned with SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 3 (good health), SDG 8 (decent work and growth), and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production). Originality/value: This research presents a novel integrative model linking entrepreneurial religiosity, halal certification, MSME performance, and SDG contribution in a single framework. It extends sustainability and Islamic entrepreneurship literature by highlighting how faith and compliance jointly reinforce sustainable enterprise growth.