EDNA SARMIENTO: Shaping future of her Zambales community
LEADING BY EXAMPLE Edna Sarmiento leads her community in Masinloc, Zambales, in restoring San Salvador Island to its former abundance. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Edna “Beth” Sarmiento, 55, a mother of six, has witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of pollution, deforestation, and climate change on San Salvador Island, a marine sanctuary in Masinloc town, Zambales province.
Born and raised on the island by her farmer parents, Sarmiento remembers a paradise teeming with fish, lush forests, and pristine waters.
“My parents’ lives revolved around working to survive, planting to eat, and planting to earn a living,” she recalled.
Over the years, however, she has seen the island’s population grow, waste accumulate, and vital ecosystems—including trees, mangroves, and fish populations—decline drastically.
Beyond farming, fishing has long been a primary livelihood on the island. However, by the late 1980s, the effects of overfishing and coral reef destruction had become evident. The average fish catch per trip plummeted from 20 kilos in the 1960s to just 1 to 3 kilos by 1988.
In response, the Haribon Foundation, a nonprofit organization, introduced community-based resource management projects, leading to the island’s designation as a Municipal Marine Reserve and Sanctuary under Presidential Proclamation No. 231.
Sarmiento joined a local group established by Haribon to protect the sanctuary. Since then, she has devoted herself to conservation, determined to restore San Salvador Island to its former abundance.
NATURE’S PROTECTOR For her work in environmental protection, Edna Sarmiento is honored as one of the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s (PDI) Women of Power awardees this year. She received the award from PDI president and CEO Rudyard Arbolado, associate publisher Juliet Labog-Javellana, executive editor Joseph Voltaire Contreras and Inquirer Group of Companies president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Conservation efforts
Today, Sarmiento leads the San Salvador Biodiversity-Friendly Association and a team of Bantay Dagat (sea patrol volunteers) tasked with guarding the island’s giant clam farm.
“I hope we can restore at least a little of what was lost, because life here in San Salvador used to be good—it wasn’t difficult. When the tide was low, we could catch plenty of fish. Now, it’s a struggle,” she lamented.
Under her leadership, the community has initiated several projects, including reforestation, environmental monitoring, and sustainable livelihood programs.
One of their most successful efforts is a community-based reforestation program that has helped restore degraded forests and enhance biodiversity. Under Sarmiento’s guidance, residents collect seedlings from the shore, nurture them in nursery bags, and plant them along the coast.
The project continues to thrive with support from a community savings and credit association, established with assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The association not only promotes financial literacy but also funds conservation projects.
“We have had many successful projects, but we have also faced numerous challenges. Destructive environmental activities significantly affect us. Just last year, a coal spill wiped out all the mangroves we planted,” she shared in Filipino.
Legacy
In October last year, a barge carrying over 11,000 metric tons of coal ran aground near San Salvador Island while seeking shelter from Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” (international name: Trami), spilling its cargo into the surrounding waters.
Sarmiento’s group was among the first to volunteer for cleanup efforts, collecting coal from the shores. They remain committed to rehabilitating the affected mangrove forests.
In recent years, many of their conservation projects have received funding from the USAID Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (Sibol) initiative. However, a recent funding freeze from the US government has introduced financial uncertainty.
Despite this setback, Sarmiento remains undeterred.
“Even without a budget, we ensure that our projects continue as long as we work together and help protect our natural resources,” she said.
Sarmiento’s tireless efforts have left a lasting impact on her community and the environment. Her story stands as a testament to the power of determination and community-driven conservation.
“I hope they [the next generation] continue what we have started because this is for them, too,” she told the Inquirer.
