The archipelagic province of Palawan is surrounded by large water bodies: the West Philippine Sea, the South China Sea, and the Sulu Sea. In the southwest area of the island, the municipalities of Quezon and Rizal are both gifted with pristine blue ecosystems that support their communities and fuel their economies. However, aside from these direct benefits, these ecosystems also provide other services that contribute to the overall well-being of the people. Building on a partnership with local stakeholders under the Marine Resources Initiative (MRI) as supported by the Australian Government, this paper attempts to assess and account for the blue carbon of the municipalities of Quezon and Jose Rizal, Palawan, providing an overview of their contribution towards the provision of global climate regulation services using localized accounting methodology and collaboration with the local government units. The study utilized an integrated partnership model to assess and evaluate ecosystem services of the seagrass and mangroves, employing a participatory research approach for immediate utility on policy and local planning.
Based on 2015 to 2020 data from the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority of the Philippines (NAMRIA), mangrove ecosystems for both areas were expanding, resulting in a positive increase in storing captured carbon, which is estimated to be at 800,108.94 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e). On the other hand, seagrass cover declined, which resulted in an estimated total emission of 607,420 tCO₂e. When valued using the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC), the mangrove expansion provided a US$8.8B (Php152M) benefit, while the decline in seagrass created a US$115.4M (Php6.7B) loss. Forecasting the values until 2050, the benefits from mangroves if the expansion is sustained can reach US$428.5M to US$529.4M (Php24.8B to Php30.7B). Meanwhile, seagrass degradation, if not halted, can cause US$61.8B to US$76.4B (Php3.6T to Php4.4T) in losses. These changes showed unrealized benefits and losses that are continuously happening; thus, it is crucial for local policymakers to move at a fast pace, considering the accruing losses due to environmental degradation and missed opportunities in the expanding ecosystems. The generated values can also provide a starting reference point in generating and updating local policies regarding ecosystem damage assessments, permits, and violation fees that involve coastal-marine habitats.