October 21–23, 2025 | Luxent Hotel, Timog Avenue, Quezon City
The Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF) actively participated in the National Coral Restoration Governance Workshop, a landmark event aimed at strengthening institutional frameworks and policy alignment for coral reef restoration in the Philippines.
Titled “Institutionalizing Effective and Sustainable Coral Restoration in the Philippines,” the workshop was convened under the Coral Restoration Governance Project — funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and implemented in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney, Marine Environment and Resources Foundation, Inc., Macquarie University, and Southern Cross University.
The three-day workshop brought together a diverse mix of stakeholders from national and local government agencies, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Through presentations, breakout sessions, and policy dialogues, participants explored governance challenges, validated project-developed tools, and shared actionable recommendations to enhance coral restoration efforts across the country.
Key discussions focused on:
- Strengthening governance and institutional arrangements for coral restoration
- Integrating restoration planning into local development frameworks
- Addressing socio-economic drivers and barriers to sustainability
The workshop also served as a platform to identify critical gaps in implementation, regulation, and long-term viability of coral restoration initiatives.
CCEF’s engagement reflects its enduring commitment to science-based coastal resource management, inclusive governance, and collaborative action — all vital to ensuring the resilience and recovery of the Philippines’ coral reef ecosystems.
As coral restoration gains traction nationwide, the workshop underscored the urgent need for a coherent national policy framework—one that harmonizes permitting, monitoring, and funding mechanisms across agencies and sectors. CCEF remains committed to contributing to this policy dialogue and advancing locally grounded, multi-sectoral collaboration that ensures coral reefs can recover, thrive, and continue supporting coastal communities for generations to come.
