MU Community-Based Educational Programs on Freshwater and Marine Ecosystem Conservation

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Misamis University Community Extension Program

MU Community-Based Educational Programs on Freshwater and Marine Ecosystem Conservation

Misamis University (MU) demonstrates a sustained and multi-level commitment to protecting freshwater and marine ecosystems through community education, technical assistance, environmental rehabilitation activities, and active involvement in local and regional conservation bodies. The university facilitates environmental learning sessions, develops IEC materials, supports community-led resource management, and assists in restoring degraded ecosystems from ridge to reef.

Among the University’s major initiatives is its involvement in the Ecological Strengthening Through Environmental Rehabilitation and Orientation (ESTERO) Program, implemented in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Ozamiz City and various business establishments located along Carangan Creek, the waterway formally adopted by Misamis University.

As part of its continuing engagement under the ESTERO Program, MU conducts environmental education sessions for mothers and children, focusing on water conservation, responsible waste management, and the impacts of land-based pollution on freshwater ecosystems. The University developed a module for these environmental classes to provide structured guidance for learning, as well as an Environmental Action Kit (EAK) containing a menu that stakeholders can use to identify ways they can contribute or activities they can participate in. In addition, the University regularly organizes clean-up activities along the stretch of Carangan Creek, with students, faculty, and staff working together to restore and maintain the creek’s ecological integrity. To further strengthen community awareness, MU also developed Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials such as posters, billboards, and flip tarps which highlight key messages on freshwater protection, pollution prevention, and proper waste management.

To support coastal communities dependent on fisheries and tourism, MU carries out educational programs on marine resource sustainability through the Community-Based Resource Rehabilitation, Awareness and Learning (CoRRAL) Program which was originally funded by the Australian Agency for International Development, now actively continued by the College of Maritime Education.

Core components of the CoRRAL Program, implemented in Barangay Barra, Tudela, Misamis Occidental, include environmental classes for coastal households that address marine pollution, solid waste management, responsible fishing practices, and the protection of coastal habitats. These sessions are complemented by mangrove planting and coastal clean-up activities, which help stabilize shorelines, restore nursery grounds for fish species, and prevent habitat degradation. The program also supports the improvement of community sanitation facilities, including the construction and maintenance of a communal toilet, which MU carried out in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) – Employees’ Welfare Committee (EWC). This collaboration helps reduce land-based sources of pollution and contributes to healthier coastal and marine ecosystems. Through these integrated efforts, MU not only strengthens community understanding of sustainable coastal management but also raises awareness on destructive fishing practices and the long-term importance of conserving marine resources.

MU also plays a key role in the DILG-funded project “Sustainable Land Management through Capability Building Among the Households of Baybay, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental”. Under this initiative, the university conducted lectures on marine pollution and responsible coastal resource use, reinforcing community awareness on practices that reduce pressure on fisheries and support long-term ecological balance. MU also developed a comprehensive set of IEC materials, including posters and a billboard promoting proper waste management to protect both land and marine environments, a poster highlighting the services of the Municipal Agriculture Office, and a leaflet guiding households on waste composting. As a major output of the project, the university constructed and turned over a community composting facility, which helps reduce organic waste, minimize land-based pollution, and prevent runoff that negatively affects fisheries and marine habitats.

In addition to these projects, MU continues its long-term involvement in the Save Labo River Program (SLRP), originally funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). This initiative focused on restoring the Labo Watershed and establishing a community-managed water system that now benefits seven upland barangays, serving a total of 805 households. Today, the water system is operated by the Linusas Laburak Cooperative (LILAC), which Misamis University continues to assist through capacity building and monitoring support. This ongoing engagement reinforces MU’s commitment to watershed rehabilitation, sustainable water governance, and community empowerment.

Additionally, MU plays an active role in local special bodies dedicated to marine ecosystem management, extending its educational influence across marine protected areas and bay-wide governance initiatives. The university serves as Sub-Committee Chair of the IEC Committee of the Baliangao Protected Landscape and Seascape (BPLS) and as a member of the Iligan Bay Alliance in Misamis Occidental (IBAMO) and Panguil Bay Development Council. Through these platforms, MU contributes to the development of plans and policies, particularly those involving information and communication campaigns that discourage illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and promote sustainable and responsible marine resource practices.

In addition to these initiatives, MU actively organizes and participates in national and international events that promote global awareness and action for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. With funding support from the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), MU celebrated World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) through online lectures, bird-watching activities, and the distribution of IEC materials that emphasized the importance of wetlands and coastal habitats for migratory bird species.

Through integrated ridge-to-reef interventions, ranging from community education, environmental rehabilitation to infrastructure support, Misamis University significantly contributes to the protection of freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems. These efforts position MU as a leading academic institution in Misamis Occidental advancing SDG 14 and strengthening community resilience in both inland and coastal environments.