To further strengthen research collaboration and community-based environmental action, the Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU TCTO) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) formally sealed a strategic partnership to advance biodiversity conservation, marine protection, and community-based environmental initiatives in Tawi-Tawi and the broader Sulu–Sulawesi Seascape.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by WCS Country Program Director Kristine Kate A. Lim and University Chancellor Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali, formalizing a shared commitment to support biodiversity conservation and protection and to enhance knowledge, research, and extension through science, education, and community action.
Under the agreement, both parties committed to collaborate closely on marine conservation efforts, with particular focus on fisheries management, protection of coral reef ecosystems, and the strengthening of marine protected areas. The partnership also aims to pursue joint research, extension, and capacity-building activities that align with shared conservation goals in Tawi-Tawi and the Sulu–Sulawesi Seascape.
In her message, Chancellor Mary Joyce Z. Guinto-Sali emphasized the deeper purpose of the collaboration:
“This collaboration is founded on a shared commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental protection, and to the advancement of knowledge through science, education, research, and community action. As an academic institution with a mandate to serve both people and the environment, MSU TCTO recognizes that meaningful conservation can only be achieved when sound science is translated into informed policy and empowered communities.”
Meanwhile, WCS Country Program Director Kristine Kate A. Lim expressed gratitude and optimism for the strengthened partnership.
“I am grateful that this commitment continues and now strengthens this formal partnership. Over the past year, we have had the privilege of working closely with this team in identifying conservation priorities in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu. Let us remember this moment as our shared commitment to science that serves society and education that empowers communities. Partnerships are built not only on agreements but also on trust, respect, sincerity, and a shared mission for people and nature. I very much look forward to what we will accomplish together.”
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prof. Richard N. Muallil, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension, and Atty. Edward Lorenzo, Associate Director for Policy and Partnership, underscoring the strong institutional support for the collaboration.
This partnership signifies a shared commitment to science-based conservation, capacity building, and long-term collaboration that responds to the ecological realities of Tawi-Tawi and the wider Sulu–Sulawesi seascape. Through this alliance, MSU TCTO and WCS aim to strengthen marine biodiversity protection, enhance local capacities, and foster sustainable development that benefits both communities and ecosystems.
