Reported by Jick L. Acupan and Prince Nico Geolaga
Building on the foundation established during the E-SEAssions, the Onsite phase, Planet D, of Project Dugong provided participants with practical, hands-on experiences designed to translate theoretical knowledge into actionable skills. This phase emphasized teamwork, leadership, environmental stewardship, and project planning, allowing participants to apply ecological principles and community action strategies in real-world settings. The face-to-face activities included Project Management training, a visit to the Environmental Conservation and Protection Centre (ECPC), a Marine Sanctuary tour, and Project Pitching, each offering unique opportunities for learning, reflection, and skill-building.
Planet D is an environmental immersion and project development program designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to create real-world solutions for a sustainable future under Project Dugong. Through guided museum and sanctuary visits, learners will DISCOVER the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the urgent issues the locality faces, specifically, the Sarangani Bay. Participants will then DESIGN innovative environmental projects through workshops on project management, leadership, and creative problem-solving maximizing the learnings and knowledge gained from the E-SEAssions. The program culminates in a project pitching where participants DELIVER their ideas, turning insights into actionable plans that can create lasting impact in their communities, most especially turning Earth a Planet liveable for Dugong.
Key takeaways
The 3 main outcomes of the activity:
- The participants were able to strengthen their team management and project planning. Through 3D Planet, the participants were able to collaborate with their teammates efficiently and effectively. The teams were composed of members from different backgrounds and representing their respective municipalities, of which 7 teams were selected from each municipality around Sarangani Province. The event was filled with fun and collaborative engagement within their groups and beyond their team members.
- The participants were able to experience community exposure through museum and sanctuary visits. The participants, along with some facilitators, explored the exhibit of biodiversity of Sarangani at the Environmental Conservation and Protection Center, Capitol Grounds. This experience brought into the participants the drive of becoming one of those environmental enthusiasts working in the preservation and conservation of not just our habitats, but also the animal’s habitat. On the other hand, they also got to explore the wilderness of the Sarangani Bay Marine Sanctuary located at Kawas, Alabel, Sarangani Province. The exploration started with a short boat ride to the hut for visitors in the Marine Sanctuary, leading to a beautifully preserved mangrove-filled area and rich in multiple marine species enjoying the sanctuary.
- The participants were able to present their proposal in a panel of judges for pitching and improvement. With the data and drivers for an environmental solution, the participants presented their respective solutions to problems identified existing to their respective areas. These proposals are rooted in their personal experiences in their communities and strengthened by the knowledge and experiences they’ve gained from Project Dugong. Now, they are expected to implement these projects along with their respective mentors. In partnership with the League of Youth Development Officers of Sarangani, the mentors were the participants respective Local Youth Development Officers (LYDO). These mentors will help the participants in the implementation of their respective projects, leading them through the process and coordination to properly propel the proposals into the community. This is to ensure that upon the implementation of their respective proposals, the participating teams are still following local standards and processes, for safety, security, and peace of implementation.
Main highlights
Complete information on the activity:
- September 27-28, 2025
- Alabel, Sarangani Province.
- Team Projico and Volunteers
- Participants:
- Team Bantayog
- Team Balikalikasan
- Team Malahluntian
- Team Nautica
- Team Saccampi
- Team SeaDivas
- Team Urchin
Activities Implemented
The visit to the Environmental Conservation and Protection Centre (ECPC) provided participants with a closer look at local wildlife and conservation efforts. Through guided tours and interactive sessions, participants were introduced to the diversity of species within Sarangani Bay and learned about the importance of habitat protection, biodiversity, and ecological balance. The ECPC tour reinforced the ridge-to-reef concept by demonstrating how upland and freshwater ecosystems influence marine habitats and highlighted the tangible results of sustained environmental stewardship, thus DISCOVER what inhibits in the environmental landscape and seascape of the Province.
The Project Management training served as a bridge between the knowledge gained online and the implementation of real-world initiatives. Participants began with getting-to-know-each-other activities to build camaraderie, followed by the team-building game “Doktor Quack”, which challenged them to identify teammates who could complement their skills and collaborate effectively. Inspired by traditional larong kalye (street games), the exercise enhanced participants’ communication, strategic thinking, and teamwork skills. This session’s speaker is Ms. Rhoda May B. Ebad, an Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson of the biggest barangay in Sarangani Province hailed the best SK Council in the Region for 5 consecutive years.
The core of the training focused on project management principles, including planning, organizing, resource allocation, and leadership. Participants learned to translate their project ideas into structured, actionable plans while aligning their initiatives with environmental goals and community needs. The training emphasized both technical skills and soft skills such as problem-solving, adaptability, and confidence, preparing participants for the subsequent implementation phase. Following is the Project Ideation where they DESIGN, in preparation for the project pitching the following day.
The Marine Sanctuary Tour, early in the morning, took participants on a boat ride to the protected waters of Kawas, Alabel, one of the marine sanctuaries under the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS), an addition to their DISCOVERY. Participants experienced the sanctuary firsthand, observing marine life, including swimming turtles and thriving reef ecosystems. This immersive experience allowed participants to emotionally connect with the marine environment, reinforcing the importance of conservation and sustainability. Witnessing the natural beauty and fragility of the sanctuary strengthened participants’ resolve to advocate for marine protection in their schools, barangays, and communities.
The Planet D concluded with Project Pitching where they DELIVER, where participants presented their proposed community-based initiatives. Drawing on insights from the online sessions, project management training, and field experiences, teams articulated their project goals, strategies, and expected impacts. This exercise not only tested their planning and communication skills but also encouraged creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Participants received constructive feedback from facilitators, mentors, and peers, which helped refine their proposals and reinforced the importance of structured, sustainable, and community-driven approaches.
The “Planet D: Discover. Design. Deliver.” training and experiential activities provided a holistic learning experience, complementing the knowledge gained from online sessions with hands-on practice and emotional engagement. Through team-building exercises, conservation site visits, marine sanctuary immersion, and project pitching, participants developed practical skills, leadership abilities, and a strong sense of environmental responsibility. Collectively, these experiences prepared participants to implement meaningful initiatives in their communities, fostering a culture of stewardship and advocacy for the ridge-to-reef ecosystem of the Buayan–Malungon River Basin and Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape.
Feedback
It was the participants’ first experience to room around the ECPC! Most of them didn’t even know its existence. Though they said that the museum smells, given that the preserved bodies were full of formaldehyde, it was still something they really enjoyed!
Then, the project management training happened quickly after the ECPC Tour. The participants were happy with what has conspired and looking forward to making crafting the best proposal that aligns with the learnings they have had during the online sessions and the project management training itself.
One of the participants mentioned that they really like the activity and learned a lot, “I found the Project Management Training very valuable. I learned not just the theory but also the practical steps in creating a project: From defining clear objectives, designing activities, and preparing a realistic budget, to writing an accomplishment report. These skills are very useful not only for environmental advocacy but also for any kind of community work.”
On the other hand, the participants demographic shows that almost all of them live near the sea, the participants coming from the Municipality of Malungon were exempted due to their geographical location as the only land-locked municipality in Sarangani, all of them were still in awe of how beautiful Sarangani Bay is beyond the seas they see from their respective areas. They’ve come to the conclusion that only if all the areas in Sarangani Bay were the same with the Sanctuary, many would really enjoy the beauty of the sea.
Lastly, during the end of the Planet D, key learnings highlighted by the participants included the value of creating a concise 9-slide pitch deck, presenting with confidence, managing timing, and engaging the audience. They also emphasized the importance of teamwork and collaboration, as working together helped them organize their ideas and present them coherently. Feedback from the panel of judges provided them with guidance on refining objectives, activities, and expected outcomes.
The participants stated that they plan to apply these lessons directly in their project implementation. They intend to use structured planning, clear activity design, and proper monitoring and reporting to ensure the success and sustainability of their initiatives. Overall, the experience strengthened their project management skills, confidence in presenting ideas, and commitment to environmental advocacy.
