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Pala’wan Indigenous communities in Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Palawan, have formally affirmed their support for declaring portions of their ancestral waters as marine protected areas (MPAs), a step toward legally protecting sea areas they have long considered sacred and safeguarded for future generations. “Indigenous Peoples have lived in and sustained these areas since time immemorial, so it is important that we bring these knowledge holders into conversations around planning, policy development and implementation,” said Aubrey Jayne Padilla, Program Implementation Manager at Rare Philippines.