A town in Occidental Mindoro, known for its unique and rich biodiversity, was declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve during the 38th International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. The declaration coincided with the global celebration of World Environment Day on June 5. Spanning an area of roughly 2,188 square kilometers, the municipality of Sablayan, a first-class coastal municipality in the province of Occidental Mindoro, is the largest in the Philippines by land area. Jubilant stakeholders in Sablayan are not stopping here, as the town’s local chief executive said part of the ambitious plan is to earn the title of Unesco World Heritage Site.

Mayuga, J. L. (2026, June 28). Sablayan declared a Unesco biosphere reserve. BusinessMirror, p. A7.