The development of the blue economy in San Isidro and Burgos in Siargao Island is set to get a boost in the next 25 years with the newly forged partnership with Singaporean marine renewable energy solutions company OceanPixel and Filipino satellite services firm Orbits Satellite Corp.
San Isidro Mayor Lamberto Dominos Jr. and Burgos Mayor Angie Arcena signed the memorandum of understanding formalizing the partnership with OceanPixel chief executive officer Michael Abundo and Orbits president and co-founder Augusto Baculio at the Manila Hotel on May 29.
The tie-up aims to position San Isidro and Burgos as “model for integrated blue economy practice,” which OceanPixel and Orbits believe will eventually attract investments on the island.
Blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of marine and coastal ecosystems.
“This partnership covers natural capital conservation – mangroves, seagrass, corals, and biodiversity – but also promulgation of industries like fishing, aquaculture, renewable energy, tourism. All the ecosystem services we will try to cover,” Abundo told the Philippine News Agency Wednesday night.
“Asian Development Bank is one of our potential partners that can give grants plus loans but there are also impact investors willing to come in with equity,” he said.
OceanPixel will conduct feasibility studies for various marine renewable energy sources and help develop innovative solutions tailored to Siargao.
The parties will also forge closer collaboration to advocate for policies at local and national levels that consider marine conservation and renewable energy development.
One of the potential projects eyed is the deployment of renewable energy technologies, such as solar, hydro, tidal, and wind farms to lessen the island’s dependence on fossil fuels.
On top of this, the partnership will cover awareness campaigns in schools, as well as workshops and training for local stakeholders on marine conservation.
Orbits Satellite Corp. co-founder and engineer Danny Rostrata, meanwhile, is optimistic the firm’s satellite would be a huge assistance to the partnership having provided connection to Filipino communities with unserved and underserved internet access for years.
“The reason why we partnered on blue economy, kasi nakita niya ‘yung endeavor na iyon, kapag nakita mo kasi ang plan namin for our satellites, it’s actually a developmental satellite to develop our GIDA (geographically isolated and disadvantageous areas), to develop countrysides (is because they saw our endeavor on satellites because if you will look at our plan for satellites, it’s actually a developmental satellite to develop our GIDA, to develop our countryside),” he said.
In the first five years, Abundo said they hope to see local policies that integrate climate resiliency alongside efforts on food and energy security.
“What we want to see in the first five years, when we co-develop potential projects here, sana aligned na siya na blue economy ang ating target. We have to look at the industry we develop while regenerating the ocean ecosystem,” he said.
By the end of the initiative, Abundo is optimistic to see a pristine Siargao and at the same time its local people thriving and sustainably benefiting from the island’s resources.
“They will become like proud owners of an ecosystem that is generating enough revenue at may export pa sila so hindi na lang puro tourism, they can grow seaweed industry, they can grow fish and ornamental fish, may mga ganyan tayong made-develop dyan (they will not only be relying on tourism but also exports… we will also develop those),” he said.
“So you will look at the island as contributing to the economy, in 25 years we hope to see that the people there are more than well to do.” (ANTONIO)
