Costa Del Hamilo Inc. (CDHI) and WWF-Philippines are renewing a nearly two-decade sustainability partnership, expanding marine conservation and environmental monitoring as tourism and property development continue to grow in Philippine coastal destinations.
The SM Prime Holdings Inc. leisure resort residences developer said the agreement marks the fifth phase of the Hamilo Coast Sustainable Development Project, which began in 2007 to support the long-term management of marine ecosystems in Hamilo Coast, Nasugbu, Batangas.
The latest phase will generate updated environmental data to guide habitat restoration, biodiversity conservation, and the management of the development’s Marine Protected Areas.
Among the activities is an assessment of Pico de Loro Cove for a potential artificial coral reef initiative, alongside marine surveys at Etayo, Pico, and Santelmo coves.
WWF-Philippines will also conduct sustainability sessions on marine conservation and solid waste management for CDHI personnel, guests, property owners, and members.
“Our renewed partnership with WWF-Philippines builds on nearly two decades of collaboration and a shared commitment to long-term environmental stewardship,” said Harvey T. Sy, head of planning and design at SM Leisure Resort Residences.
Hamilo Coast is located within the Coral Triangle, a global center of marine biodiversity that supports more than three-quarters of the world’s coral species.
The renewed program comes as coastal destinations face the challenge of accommodating tourism and real estate activity while protecting ecosystems that underpin fisheries, biodiversity, and local livelihoods.
For CDHI, updated environmental monitoring could provide a stronger basis for managing development alongside conservation, particularly as marine protected areas and surrounding habitats face increasing pressures from human activity.
“Businesses that depend on nature also have an opportunity and a responsibility to help protect it,” WWF-Philippines Executive Director Katherine Custodio said.
The partnership also links environmental protection with community interests, including the sustainability of fisheries and coastal livelihoods.
