Alliance of Seven Municipalities for ICZM (A7) Reactivation

GDFI facilitated the review, revision, and ongoing integration of a Uniform Municipal Fisheries Ordinance (MFO) across seven local government units to harmonize marine resource governance across 24 MPAs in the northern Leyte Gulf.

Conservation that adds up

35+

Years of Legacy

7

Coastal Municipalities

18

Hectares of Mangroves Protected

25

Locally Managed MPAs

What we do

Our Core Pillars

Coastal Resource Management

Marine sanctuaries, data-driven assessments, and species restoration.

Mangrove Ecosystem Protection

Community-led rehabilitation, mapping, and climate resilience training.

Adaptive & Inclusive Governance

Strengthening local policies and building equitable partnerships.

Stories from the field

Community Stories

Fisherfolk

Aljen Alamodin

I am Aljen Alamodin. I am twenty years old. A young fisherman, son of a fishing couple, Antonio Alamodin and Susan Alamodin. When my siblings and I were young, we were trained in our parents' work [fishing]. They showed us that diligence and perseverance are the secret to rising in life. Because I got married early and have a child, I go out to sea with my parents to fish in order to provide for my family. In fishing, I saw that I would have enough income to support my family and that perseverance and planning are the secret to success, and not dependent on the type of work you have. We don’t catch a lot all the time – there are days when our catch is just enough to serve as our food for the day and we are not able to sell anything Since I am young, I still have a lot to learn. I still have a lot to learn about making a living, especially in fishing. So I was glad to have the Hub in our town. This is a big thing for our fishermen because we will learn a lot about new technologies that will help our livelihood, especially among the youth. Because they say “Youth is Hope.” I also want to convey to the youth who are losing hope and those that married and had families at an early age, that there are nothing can stop us from lifting our lives, you only need perseverance and diligence.

Women

Analyn Calicoy Quiminales

I am Analyn Calicoy Quiminales, a fisher and a member of the Handicraft Group. When my son was still young, I just stayed at home to take care of him. But when he grew up, I started helping my husband in fishing. Then when I got pregnant again, I am just staying at home as a plain house wife with no source of income. When I became a member of the Handicraft group, I observed that I am always busy. The extra time before that I used to watch television and sleep, is now being used to work to become more productive. At first when, Ma’am Marge asked us to choose the group we want to join, it has always been in my mind to join Handicraft group, because of my interest in arts. When I watch television, design and handicraft products always catch my attention. I even made Christmas Tree decorations out of the old clothes of my baby instead of buying new plastic flowers for Php10.00 each. During the trade fair, the most challenging part was the bad weather condition. Each of us, has to make one “banig” for the trade fair. So we decided to pick a lot of “bariw” leaves to be used as the material for our “banig”. However, due to the rainy weather, we were not able to dry the leaves. The raw materials darken because of the moisture and some even grew molds. To save the materials, we decided to dye the leaves to make bags. We were able to make a few but most of the materials were thrown away. It was heartbreaking and sad, because we already invested so much time, effort and money. But then and there, we were able to come up with an idea to make shell crafts. We asked for permission from Ma’am Marge and then looked for washed off shells in the shore. We were careful in picking the shells, as not to use endangered ones and even small ones. Despite that, by all truth, my groupmates were scared about the huge capital that we have. They even wanted to give it back because they were not confident that we will succeed. But I told them, that with, we will be able to succeed one day. With the biggest amount given to us among all the groups, I told them that we also have the biggest chance to make more products. But among everything, I am most grateful to GDFI and G2A, because if not for them, we will not have a stronger and better house than we had before. I am also thankful that their generosity did not stop on the housing project but extended to provide as livelihood opportunities which are now giving us extra income to support our families.

Women

Lilybeth Tebrero

I am Lilybeth Tebrero, a member of the Herbal Group. We are not direct beneficiaries of the Give2Asia Housing Project in Maliwaliw Island, but my parents were. When my father passed away in November 2018, we became the beneficiaries of his housing unit. Our original house is within the 40km danger zone at Sitio Kabarasan. We are one of the 3 remaining families at the coastal area with concrete houses. I have 8 children, and we needed a minimum space to fit all of them comfortably. My husband is a teacher at the barangay elementary school. Although we have a regular source of income it was not enough for us to transfer right away to the village because we did not have enough savings to build an extension. During rainy season, we usually transfer to the G2A Village, but normally we still live at our old house. During the Typhoon Ursula, we were supposed to transfer to the G2A Village before landfall, but we were pre-occupied preparing food before we evacuate. The typhoon landed while we were still in Kabarasan, we saw how the water rose as we run towards the village. We saw our windows shattered and the water entering our house. We were running with the water already increasing up to our knees. When we reached the elementary school, we decided to go inside since the wind was so strong and we couldn’t proceed to the village anymore. At the evacuation center, we observed that it was not resilient enough to withstand stronger typhoons. The windows were broken, and the ceilings are dripping with water. After the typhoon, when we transferred to the Village, we observed that only the front window of our house was damaged. At that point, my husband and I regretted, we knew better, we were both trained and were able to attend the trainings given by GDFI, but still we chose convenience over safety. While we were evacuating, our children were crying, they were traumatized because of what we experienced. Right there and then, we decided to transfer as soon as possible to the village. We transferred what we saved from our house to the village and we will slowly construct an extension.” Lilybeth and Chris shared their story to other residents still living in coastal areas. Lilybeth said “We learned our lessons the hard way, we risked the lives of our children over convenience and attachment to our old house. We are thankful to G2A and GDFI for the housing grant that we are now living in. We are thankful that it was not too late to actually do the right thing.

What's happening

Latest Announcements

JUN 12, 2026

Celebrating Philippine Independence Day

Today, as we celebrate Philippine Independence Day, we look beyond our history books and focus on the future of our nation. For us at GDFI, true freedom and self-reliance flow from a healthy, thriving environment. A country cannot be fully secure if its coastal communities struggle with declining fish catches, or if its islands are left vulnerable to climate change without the natural protection of healthy mangrove belts and watersheds. True independence is realized when local communities are empowered with the knowledge, legal frameworks, and tools to guard their own ecosystems—from the ridge to the reef. By protecting our marine sanctuaries, restoring our forests, and managing our resources sustainably, we are practicing active patriotism. We are ensuring that the wealth of our land and seas remains healthy and bountiful for generations of Filipinos to come. Let us honor our freedom by protecting the nature that sustains us. Maligayang Araw ng Kasarinlan mula sa Guiuan Development Foundation, Inc.

Read Honoring history through action this #WorldOceansDay!
JUN 11, 2026
Honoring history through action this #WorldOceansDay!
Honoring history through action this #WorldOceansDay! Did you know that Bagonbanwa Island Marine Reserve and Fish Sanctuary in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, is the very first Marine Protected Area (MPA) established in Eastern Visayas? Covering 28 hectares, this unique island is home to a "triple alliance" of coastal ecosystems: mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. When the Guiuan Development Foundation, Inc. (GDFI) established the MPA back in 1990, the marine life here was heavily degraded by blast, dynamite, and cyanide fishing. Where others saw destruction, GDFI saw an opportunity for rehabilitation. True enough, in just five years, a sanctuary once described by renowned marine scientist Dr. Angel Alcala as “sterile” was completely teaming with life—proving that when we give nature a chance, it bounces back. For years, Bagonbanwa served as a bustling hub for coastal resource trainings, scientific research, eco-tourism, and student internships, accommodating up to 50 people. Tragically, in 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan utterly destroyed the island’s field station, buildings, water systems, and wharf. This World Oceans Day, we returned to Bagonbanwa Island. To honor its legacy and protect its future, our team conducted a coastal clean-up activity. Keeping our sanctuaries free from marine debris is a vital step in maintaining the ocean resilience we’ve fought so hard to build over the last three decades. But we can't do it alone. To fully restore our Bagonbanwa Field Station so it can continue inspiring the younger generation about sustainable fishing and environmental protection, we need your help. Be part of the restoration. Partner with us, support our initiatives, or coordinate your next learning visit by messaging GDFI directly. Together, let's bring back a better field station for the future of our seas!
Read Through the lens of the next generation
JUN 9, 2026
Through the lens of the next generation
Through the lens of the next generation. Check out these incredible underwater glimpses of the corals and giant clams thriving at the Bagonbanua Island Marine Reserve! To keep a close eye on our marine ecosystems, quick status checks and underwater photography are vital tools for our conservation teams. These stunning shots were captured by Armandt, one of our passionate young observers and conservationists-in-training. Seeing the next generation dive into marine protection gives us immense hope for the future of our oceans. Want the youth in your community to learn about marine biodiversity firsthand? Bagonbanua is a fantastic living classroom! We highly encourage educational and learning visits for young people. Interested? Coordinate directly with the Guiuan Development Foundation, Inc. (GDFI) to plan a meaningful learning visit.
Read Empowering coastal communities and fostering climate-smart marine governance
JUN 8, 2026
Empowering coastal communities and fostering climate-smart marine governance
Guiuan Development Foundation, Inc.commits to empowering coastal communities and fostering climate-smart marine governance through our community-led Assessment and Management Training, ensuring that local ocean action is truly inclusive and accessible to everyone, including persons with disabilities. This World Oceans Day, we are proud to be part of the COAST Facility, a UK-funded programme supporting more resilient coastal ecosystems and stronger, more sustainable blue economies. The programme is helping to drive practical solutions across key areas of ocean resilience, from strengthening marine protected and locally managed areas, to advancing blue carbon and nature-based solutions, to supporting sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal livelihoods. Central to this work is partnership. COAST brings together communities, local organisations, governments, researchers, and private sector actors to co-create solutions that link ocean health with economic opportunity. We look forward to continuing this journey and to sharing more of our work and impact.
Read GDFI Welcomes Tech Talents from UP!
JUN 5, 2026
GDFI Welcomes Tech Talents from UP!
GDFI Welcomes Tech Talents from University of the Philippines Tacloban! The times are changing, and everything is going digital! For an NGO like the Guiuan Development Foundation, Inc. (GDFI), keeping up with this shift is crucial. Spreading environmental awareness, showcasing community impact, and sharing our conservation stories now rely heavily on a strong digital presence. That is why—more than ever—the world of conservation needs the power of Computer Science! We are thrilled to officially welcome our student-trainees from the University of the Philippines Tacloban, pursuing their BS in Computer Science! These brilliant interns are taking on a massive role during their time with us: building GDFI’s official digital home. By bridging tech and environmental advocacy, these tech-for-good pioneers are equipping us with the modern tools we need to scale our operations, elevate our publicity, and amplify our awareness campaigns globally. This is a huge contribution to our mission. We are incredibly excited to see how their technical skills, codes, and algorithms will translate into stronger waves of coastal conservation and community resilience across Eastern Samar! Welcome to the team, UP Tacloban Interns! Let’s build a more digitally empowered and climate-resilient future together.