Officials and staff of the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office broke ground last week in Siay, marking the start of construction on a new facility for protected area management. (DENR Photo)
SIAY, Zamboanga Sibugay — A new facility dedicated to managing protected areas is being built in Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay, in a move expected to strengthen the province’s ability to protect its natural resources and carry out conservation work in the field.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced the project Tuesday, September 15, 2026, describing the new Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) Building – Cluster 68 as a facility that will support the province’s protected-area operations.
But officials say the project is about more than putting personnel under one roof.
Christopher Babaran, chief of the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said the building represents an investment in the province’s long-term efforts to protect and conserve its natural resources.
“The construction of the PAMO Building – Cluster 68 is more than just the establishment of a physical facility,” Babaran said in a statement.
“It represents our commitment to strengthening our capacity to protect, manage, and conserve our natural resources for present and future generations.”
Once completed, the building will provide PAMO personnel with a dedicated base for their day-to-day operations.
It will also serve as a hub for coordinating conservation activities and working with local governments and other stakeholders involved in protected-area management.
The facility is expected to give personnel responsible for implementing protected-area policies and programs a permanent workplace closer to the communities and areas they are tasked with helping protect.
For Zamboanga Sibugay, the project adds another piece to the province’s conservation infrastructure — providing a physical base for the people charged with turning environmental policies into action on the ground.
The DENR said the facility is expected to strengthen the province’s capacity to manage protected areas and support conservation programs and field operations.
The facility will become a dedicated center for the province’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its natural resources for future generations.
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