Until the mid-90s, the municipality of
Palompon, which is known for its production of boneless danggit, was
experiencing very low fish catch. The serious deterioration of the towns overall
environmental condition was believed to be the cause. Indiscriminate cutting of mangroves,
unregulated extraction of corals and hunting of birds, and illegal fishing were among the
practices that became very rampant over the years.
To address this problem, the local government launched in 1995 a project which aims to
restore, protect, and manage the marine resources of the municipality, and to alleviate
poverty through fish catch and other alternative livelihood activities. The program,
Ecological Amelioration for Sustainable Development, involved not only the participation
of the communities but also various government agencies like the Department of Agriculture
and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.