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In the Central Luzon area of the Philippines, there is a province called Zambales. Zambales is well known for its coves and beaches. Surfing and camping are the most popular activities in this area. This region offers an excellent balance of tranquility and exhilarating excitement to suit all sorts of tourists. One of the country's most picturesque beach locations, Zambales is recognized for its breathtaking islands, sand beaches, and deep blue, pure seas. Due to the short travel distance—only 4 to 5 hours—it is also the preferred beach destination for Metro Manila residents. Nevertheless, visitors to Zambales occasionally leave a mark that may aggravate the situation in the area, and ongoing projects and renovations may result in the destruction of the beach.

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Average annual precipitation  -   153.03mm (6.02in)

Annual Temperature Range   -    23.89ºC - 30.1ºC

Coldest Month              -              January (21.94ºC)

Warmest month             -              April (32.23ºC)

Wettest Month               -              August

Driest Month                  -              February

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Lakes, Gulf, Bay, River

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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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A protest against dredging efforts by a trading business for the development of a causeway and jetty port along the town's shoreline was organized by more than 50 locals and representatives of environmental organisations. The jetty port and causeway construction is one of five projects being built in Pampanga province to "service corporations" that will haul lahar from Mt. Pinatubo to other parts of the country and other clients in Asean. The protesters claimed the construction of a port in an area that would also include portions of nearby San Felipe town could be a prelude to black sand mining, calling it "destructive and illegal."

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Zambales has a reputation for being a haven for black sand miners from China, in addition to its beautiful beaches for surfing and sunsets. the St. Paul port Former President Aquino issued a blanket ban on black sand mining, which led to the closure of Cruz town, which was used to ship black sand to China. Zambales has five main black sand mining regions: San Marcelino, Candelaria, Masinloc, and Sta. Botolan and Cruz.

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Save Zambales Kalikasan Movement is a coalition of people’s organizations based in Zambales, Philippines which include fisherfolk groups, resort owners associations, business owners, surfer organizations, artists’ groups, environmental defenders, and concerned citizens working together to protect biodiversity and campaign against development aggression that endanger critical areas of communities biodiversity.

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SASFI’s vision is to see a thriving Zambales economy that benefits the local citizens. It believes that development must be consistent not only with sound economics but also with ecological principles and social equity. Its goal is to create viable sustainable community enterprises based on the communities’ interests, skills and resources.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Due to the relentless fuel price hikes that have either pushed local fishers to totally give up fishing or reduce their time at sea to save on the cost of fuel, authorities have raised the alarm over the widespread illicit fishing in this coastal region. According to Bobby Roldan, chair of fisher group Pamalakaya in Central Luzon, around 90% of the 15,000 registered boat operators in the province temporarily halted their fishing expeditions because they could no longer afford the high diesel cost.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Each year, the month of May is celebrated as the Month of the Ocean by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 57 issued in 1999 to protect and save our marine waters.

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Divers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon recently gathered more than 200 kilograms of trash, primarily made up of cigarette butts, plastic food packaging, and other single-use plastics, from the island's shores and the waters of the 7,000-ha Masinloc Oyon Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape (MOBPLS) in Palauig town.

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As a result of Zambales' reliance on its natural resources and agriculture, preservation of as much of it as possible should be a priority. The sustainability of the town will be destroyed by these destructive operations being carried out. Most of their sources of livelihood will eventually be jeopardized. Fortunately, there are local movements that support resistance to Zambales' destruction. But assistance from the government would be really beneficial.

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The marine life is essential since it gives communities access to food, helps with mass transit, and provides a habitat for aquatic species. Because without this life, life would be inconvenient and difficult, we should care for our seas and oceans. Do not wait until garbage, dirt, and filth have surrounded us on the water. The only thing that nature wants in return for the things it has given us is their protection. Preserve the water, save the environment.

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https://tcktcktck.org/philippines/zambales
https://www.asianscientificjournals.com/new/publication/index.php/ajob/article/download/1398/2029#:~:text=The%20coastal%20areas%20of%20Zambales,(San%20Salvador%20Island)%2C%20Hermana
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1528608/zambales-folk-say-port-project-will-harm-environment-agri

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/05/18/san-narciso-zambales-fishermen-resort-owners-reject-proposed-jetty-port-project/

https://www.savezambaleskalikasan.org/projects

https://www.facebook.com/savezambaleskalikasanmovement

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=120164210558662&set=pb.100079305351592.-2207520000.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=111980058043744&set=pb.100079305351592.-2207520000.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1570390/in-zambales-rampant-illegal-fishing-alarms-officials

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Zambales, PH Climate Zone, Monthly Weather Averages and Historical Data

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Climate of Zambales, Philippines. Information regarding Zambales climate zones and historical climate data including temperature and precipitation.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1607215/zambales-folk-defy-chinas-fishing-ban
https://r3.denr.gov.ph/index.php/news-events/regional-releases/1210-bamboo-can-help-increase-ph-s-forest-cover
http://www.pundaquit.com/things-to-do-in-pundaquit/sport-fishing-in-pundaquit-zambales.html

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MASINLOC, Zambales, Philippines - Fishermen in this coastal province are bent on resisting the China-imposed unilateral fishing ban in the South China Sea that extends into the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Leonardo Cuaresma, leader of the New Masinloc Fishermen's Association in this town, which faces the WPS, said they would rather act like "thieves" in their own fishing grounds at the Panatag Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Mansiloc, than bow to China.

"Even though we are scared because most of us were harassed and bullied by the Chinese coast guards in the shoal, we still take those risks just so our families will have food on the table every day," Cuaresma told the Inquirer.

Cuaresma stressed that China has no right to impose such a ban since it has no proof that it owns the shoal and other contested territories in the WPS.

"If the government tells us to just comply with the ban, it leaves us with no other option but to sneak into our own fishing grounds," Cuaresma said.

For Joselito Marabe, another fisherman, the unilateral ban was another kind of intimidation by China, which he said was also an "unjust treatment" of Filipino fisherfolk.

"I hope the national government can see through our needs and the struggles we are facing," Marabe said.

Bajo de Masinloc serves as the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen as it is situated inside the country's 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone.

China, which has sweeping claims in nearly all of the WPS, seized control of the shoal in 2012, prompting the country to seek the United Nations' arbitration. In 2016, the arbitral tribunal invalidated China's sweeping claims, but China continues to ignore the ruling.

Hopeful

Cuaresma said he was still hopeful that the administration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would make a move and respect the rights of all the Filipino fishermen to fish in the country's territorial waters.

Bobby Roldan, vice chair for Luzon of fisherfolk's group Pamalakaya, said his group was encouraging Filipino fishermen not to recognize the Chinese fishing ban, and to continue with their fishing operations in the Philippine waters.

"Our fisherfolk members will never comply as we affirm that China has no political and moral ascendancy to impose a fishing moratorium in our exclusive economic zone," Roldan said in a statement on Monday.

China has been imposing the annual ban since 1999, citing the need to develop sustainable marine life due to overfishing in the area. It started in May and will last until mid-August.

The group slammed China for using "marine biological conservation" as a pretext for the three-and-a-half-month fishing ban.

"The audacity of China to impose a fishing ban on the pretext of marine conservation when it is the one plundering our marine waters through its aggression," Roldan said.

Pamalakaya also dared the government to "go beyond diplomatic protest" and mobilize local maritime authorities to ensure the safety of Filipino fishers who will venture into the WPS amid the Chinese fishing ban.
RELATED STORY Amid China fishing ban, PCG to escort Filipino fisherfolk in West PH Sea
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Zambales fishermen defy China's fishing ban

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MASINLOC, Zambales, Philippines - Fishermen in this coastal province are bent on resisting the China-imposed unilateral fishing ban in the South China Sea that extends into the West Philippine Sea (WPS).