WWF-Philippines

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Ready to join us? Find the right role here: wwf.org.ph/jobs/

🌊 What’s one small change you can do to keep our oceans healthy? Tell us your favorite ocean-friendly habit!

Just as nature takes time to rest and renew, so should we.

We’re taking a break from August 23rd to 27th and encourage you to do the same. 🌿 Let’s recharge, refresh, and reconnect with the world around us.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝗮 (𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮)

𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩

In 2015, one unit ferrocement water tank can hold 3,000 liters and cost PhP 10,000. Taking into account inflation, the cost of one unit ferrocement water tank is now PhP 15,000 (as of 2024). Half of the amount is for materials and half for the labor of the craftsmen.

The initial affordability got the attention of others who contracted the craftsmen to build personal ferrocement water tanks in their backyard. Among them is Barangay Captain Niño Magbanua. With innovation, foresight, and a background in business and finance, he made it a local government project to provide ferrocement water tanks for every household in Lipot North.

Having experienced severe droughts in the past, Magbanua knew that they needed water storage systems. The water supply system for his barangay would cost P400,000 for 35 households, but the barangay’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) budget could only afford half. Magbanua negotiated with local suppliers to give them a credit line payable in two years.

Now there are more than 100 units of ferrocement water tanks built in four barangays and two more barangays will soon benefit from this innovation. Magbanua and his team received requests from these barangays, including those on smaller islands, to help them set up their water supply system as a sustainable alternative to plastic tanks and stand-alone deep wells.

𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮-𝙒𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙎𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢

After providing his constituents with ferrocement water tanks, Magbanua thought of a way to enhance the existing ferrocement water tanks. He placed two water tanks at an elevated place and added a water pump, distribution pipes, and a water meter. This created a water supply system connected to each household.

“Some sites for installation are challenging due to the terrain and elevation, especially if it involves using motor pumps for the deep well. I survey the location first and carefully design the system to make sure it’s foolproof,” Magbanua said.

With built-in filters installed in the tanks, 90% of the households use rainwater for drinking. Water from the faucet is mainly used for cleaning, washing, and other domestic needs. Even the municipal offices and neighboring barangays access their water through direct connections from the water pipe.

Residents pay a flat rate of P70 per month regardless of water consumption which goes to the barangay funds. Their bayanihan spirit paid off sooner than they expected. Despite its size and limited livelihood resources compared to other barangays, Lipot North now generates the second-highest income in the municipality.

𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚

Looking back at how their water situation has tremendously improved over time, Magbanua recognized the importance of addressing people’s needs based on available resources so that by using “low-cost, simple, and sustainable technologies, we can continue to thrive without compromising the environment.”

Magbanua’s latest project is pilot-testing the use of ferrocement for a biogas digester for use in cooking fuel. He intends to replicate this innovation in his barangay and eventually in the entire island municipality. He is also preparing the installation of a community market hub equipped with basic storage facilities to secure food safety and provide easy access to local produce.

Building on the success of the ferrocement water tanks, and having identified a local champion, the Climate Resilient Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Project funded by the Gerry Roxas Foundation will roll out these locally-led innovations geared toward improving community resilience amid the impact of climate change.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰 𝘣𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘸𝘧.𝘰𝘳𝘨.𝘱𝘩. 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦.

WE ARE HIRING 💼🌱

Ready to take action for the environment? Become a part of the Panda family and drive positive change for our planet.

📸 Picture: Young Steller's / Steller / Northern Sealions (Eumetopias jubatus) curiously approaching the photographer. Glacier Island, Columbia Bay, Alaska, USA. © naturepl.com / Doug Perrine / WWF

Open positions:
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📌 Finance and Administrative Assistant (Financing and Integrating Renewable Energy Butuan)
📌 Food Program Lead
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📌 Site Coordinator (Nature-based solutions (NbS) - Futures Innovation Collab)
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Hi! I’m Ella Tinio, a full-time Panda here at WWF-Philippines. Curiosity led me to explore the world through photography, allowing me to discover both the beauty and flaws of our surroundings. Each photograph tells a story, and over the years, I’ve documented our rapidly changing — and sometimes declining —world.

While photographs often spotlight the issues of our environment, they also capture the dreamers and doers — the people who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty to make a difference.

1) A member of Manila City's Estero Rangers cleans a section of Estero de San Lazaro.
2) A resident of Barangay 775 manages a community greenhouse that doubles as a biodegradable waste processing center.
3) Without space for an MRF, Barangay 775 ingeniously converted their road islands into waste segregation areas and a greenhouse for vegetables.
4) Norlinda Rentosa of Barangay 118 showcases a learning material from a solid waste management training for households.
5) Manila City residents put on their sneakers and grab garbage sacks for TakPul o Takbong May Pulot in Intramuros.
6) A fisherman prepares to cast his nets in Manila Bay, an area threatened by various environmental issues, including plastic pollution.

These photos capture not only the challenges our planet faces but also the determination of those whose lives depend on its survival.

A tip for those who also want to feed their curiosity and capture what's happening in our shared world: You don’t need a high-end camera to tell these stories. As photographer Chase Jarvis once said, “The best camera is the one that’s with you.” All it takes is connecting with the world around you and letting its stories unfold.

Support Our Environmental Champions Now!

Super Typhoon Carina’s destruction underscores the urgent need to address the climate crisis. Our partners in the Luzon Region, leading our sustainability efforts, need our assistance to recover and rebuild.

We appreciate the donations we've received, but more help is needed. Your support can provide essential aid and aid their recovery process.

Make a difference today 🤍 simplygiving.com/event/wwfph-carina

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝗮 (𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭)

On a dark and cold early morning, there is a long line of people at the communal deep wells of Cagayancillo Island. The line grows longer by the minute as the island residents collect water for their daily household consumption. At the crack of dawn, pumped water from below ground would be depleted leaving latecomers empty-handed.

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮

Water for domestic use in Cagayancillo is a scarce resource and is, therefore, an expensive commodity. The cluster of small islands can be found 330km east off the coast of Palawan in the middle of the Sulu Sea. A sixth-class island municipality far from the mainstream of development, basic water supply has become a perennial problem in Cagayancillo.

“We relied on rainwater and shallow wells that are often salty and would dry up during the summer season,” Niño Magbanua, barangay captain of Lipot North on the main island of Cagayancillo, reminisced about those times when water scarcity was a daily ordeal.

“When water runs out, those who have the means take the four-hour boat ride to the neighbouring Cawili island to get freshwater from a small spring,” Magbanua, affectionately called by residents as Kap Niño, said.

Cagayancillo does not have a similar spring to get freshwater from. Transporting water from one island to another would cost a family P1,500 per week.

𝙁𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙩

In 2015, we introduced ferrocement to build rain-collecting water tanks as a climate-adaptive technology. As opposed to the traditional cement water tanks which use a lot of aggregates such as beach sand, the harvesting of which threatens the stability of the islands’ coasts and beaches.

Ferrocement technology reduced the use of aggregates by 40% and the overall cost by 75% compared to cement tanks and plastic or aluminium drums. It has a cylindrical jar-like design which is known for superior stability.

We trained (and funded) seven local craftsmen how to fabricate the iron (ferro) mould, which was then used to construct two ferrocement water tanks. But the story doesn't end here.

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 2 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

Help Rebuild for Our Environmental Heroes!

Super Typhoon Carina’s impact highlights the urgent climate crisis we face. Our partners in the Luzon Region, who have been key to our sustainability efforts, now need our assistance to rebuild their communities.

We’re thankful for the support we've had, but there’s still a need for more contributions. Your support can make a significant difference in their recovery.

Help them rebuild today 🤍 simplygiving.com/event/wwfph-carina

With support from the EU SWITCH-Asia Programme, we handed over new oil spill containment booms to Apo Reef Natural Park in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro (pictured here) to empower the province to protect its rich marine biodiversity and coastal communities from oil spills.

Together, we’re making strides to preserve our oceans and support the livelihoods of coastal communities!

Full story here: wwf.org.ph/our_work/food/?731501/EU-SWITCH-Asia-Funded-Project-Buhay-Donates-New-Oil-Spill-Containment-Booms-To-Help-Disaster-Preparedness-in-Mindoro-Strait-Training-Conducted-to-Combat-Oil-Spills

Act Now to Support Our Environmental Heroes!

Super Typhoon Carina's devastating impact is a stark reminder of the urgent climate crisis. Our partner communities in Luzon, who have been at the forefront of our sustainability efforts, now need our help to rebuild their lives.

We’re deeply grateful for the donations we've received so far, but there’s still a chance to contribute. Your support can provide crucial aid and help these communities recover.

Make a difference today 🤍 simplygiving.com/event/wwfph-carina

Lions could easily take the gold in the 100m dash, but in the wild, they need our support to stay in the race. 🏅🦁

Support those who need it most!

The severe damage caused by Super Typhoon Carina highlights the urgent reality of the climate crisis. Your support can help us deliver immediate aid to our partner communities in Luzon.

These communities have been integral to our sustainability projects. Now, they need our help to rebuild their lives.

Stand with us and donate today 🤍 simplygiving.com/event/wwfph-carina

Our Sustainable Tuna Partnership (STP2) Project is dedicated to ending Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing 🌊 🐟

Swipe through to see how the project is making our oceans more sustainable!

Support our Sustainability Champions!

The overwhelming impact of Super Typhoon Carina shows the real effects of the climate crisis. With your help, we can bring swift relief to our partner communities in Luzon.

These communities have been at the heart of our sustainability efforts. Now, they need our support to restore their lives after the typhoon.

Support us and donate today 🤍 simplygiving.com/event/wwfph-carina

Help Us Rebuild!

The devastation from Super Typhoon Carina is overwhelming, but together we can provide immediate relief for our partner communities in the Luzon Region heavily hit by the typhoon.

Stand with us and donate today 🤍 simplygiving.com/event/wwfph-carina

🌊 Celebrating Marine Protected Areas Day by recognizing Filipino citizen scientists 🪸

Cagayancillo is located at the heart of the Coral Triangle, and home to the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, the largest no-take marine protected area in the country.

In 2020, we helped form a Citizen Science Team in Cagayancillo to safeguard and study the coral reefs in the area. Coral reefs are vital because they provide habitats for marine life, protect coastlines, and support food security and livelihoods.

From 8 passionate members, the team has grown to 17 locals, including local government reps, fisherfolk, seaweed farmers, women, and youth, all committed to protecting their marine environment.

The team uses the Alwan method, a simple way for local communities to monitor coral reef health. They take photos and collect data on benthic cover, butterflyfishes, and marine invertebrates while freediving. Despite setbacks from Typhoon Odette, which damaged several monitoring stations in 2021, there are now promising signs of recovery and improvement.

Monitoring coral reef health not only strengthens local policies and reef protection but also fills the community with pride and inspires other municipalities to take similar action. The Citizen Science Team’s efforts are a shining example of how local communities, with support and guidance, can contribute to broader conservation goals, benefiting both people and the planet.

Join us in recognizing the incredible work of the Cagayancillo Citizen Science Team! Support WWF-Philippines conservation projects here: https://www.wwf.org.ph/get_involved/support_us/

📢 Urgent Help Needed!

Super Typhoon heavily impacted our partner communities in the Luzon Region.

These communities have been at the forefront of many of our efforts to build a sustainable future. Now, they need our help to build back their lives destroyed by the typhoon.

We need your help to provide them with immediate relief and essential supplies. Every help counts: simplygiving.com/event/wwfph-carina