Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)  Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga praised the Saribuhay sa Dampalit project launched by the San Miguel Aerocity, Inc. (SMAI) in the coastal village of Pamarawan in the City of Malolos, Bulacan on Friday, Feb. 23. 

Loyzaga said the Saribuhay sa Dampalit project of SMAI, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), aims to protect migratory shorebirds. This is the first and the largest scale Biodiversity Offset Project (BOP) in the country. 

She said SMAI's efforts include a range of scientifically grounded measures to ensure the newly created habitats meet the specific needs of the wildlife they aim to protect.

The BOP project has engaged residents affected by the NMIA project, providing employment and raising awareness about the importance of preserving migratory shorebirds. 

The DENR secretary stressed the importance of embracing the mitigation hierarchy for net positive infrastructure development, highlighting its importance in building inclusive and resilient communities while protecting biodiversity for future generations. 

This pioneering initiative marks the launch of the Philippines’ first BOP, a part of the company's nature-based solutions for building its New Manila International Airport project (NMAI) in Bulacan.

The Saribuhay sa Dampalit, a project inclined to support people and wildlife, is a pilot BOP site in Pamarawan that covers 40 hectares with plans to expand to 800 hectares of offset sites across various areas. 

The launching was also attended by Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna, Undersecretary Augusto Dela Pena, Undersecretary Ignatius Rodriguez, Dutch Ambassador Marielle Geraedts, and representatives from SMAI.

"The Saribuhay sa Dampalit project is an integrative approach to development that respects and enhances the natural environment alongside our infrastructure objectives. We firmly believe that progress and nature can co-exist, benefiting both the ecosystem and the local community. We thank everyone involved - from our government partners, environmental groups, and local community members for helping make this possible,” said SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang.

Adhering to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) environment and social standards, the project has provided a rich feeding ground to the visiting migratory birds in record numbers this time. This is a proof that the site constructed by SMAI has successfully provided sufficient food for the shorebirds.

SMAI Project Director Cecile L. Ang said, "By involving residents in our efforts, we're not just building infrastructure, we are cultivating a community that values and actively contributes to environmental preservation.” 

Meanwhile, Alejandra Libao, relocated from the airport project site and currently serving as team leader in the offset site, shared how the program has transformed their outlook in life.  “Dapat pala ‘yung mga ibon,minamahal namin. Ngayon nalaman namin na may mga migratory bird pala, dati ‘kala namin tagak- tagak lang iyan. ‘Yung community ho nagkaroon ng hanapbuhay tapos minahal na rin nila ‘yung mga ibon. Hindi namin akalain na meron palang nag-aalaga ng ibon. Binubugaw lang namin ‘yan,” (We should love birds. Now we know there are migratory birds, we used to think that's only herons. The community have livelihoods and they also loved the birds. We didn't think they're taking care of the bird. We just drove them away), she said.

Ang is optimistic that the project will extend beyond wildlife protection, potentially turning the area into a prime location for bird-watching, boosting tourism, and creating even more opportunities for local communities.