AFTER months of preparations, the new and improved official website of the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) is launched today. This updated and upgraded site is the result of analysis, design, and programming. This SINP website, www.samarislandnaturalpark.org.ph, presents the importance and value of the island’s rich resources, its history, culture and the people living in it.

It also introduces the viewers to the Samar Island Natural Park, its outstanding features, the admirable efforts of civil society and government actors that led to its establishment as a protected area, the benefits that the people of the island can expect to enjoy with its proper management as well as the threats and challenges confronting those who are engaged in the conservation of its biodiversity resources. 

With the signing of Presidential Proclamation No. 442 officially recognizing the Samar Island Natural Park, we are assured that with proper management and protection the island’s rich biodiversity resources can become sustainable and provide Samarnon with clear air, water, food, medicine and other needs.

However, mere Proclamation is not enough to guarantee the protection of the forests of Samar Island. “We - the DENR, together with the local government units, civil society and the upland communities – must continue to ensure that the remaining biodiversity richness of the forests is managed well for the benefit of our children and as a guarantee for their future,” Dir. Manolito D. Ragub, CESO VI, SINP Protected Area Superintendent and SIBP Project Manager said.

In addition to the twin goal of the SINP which is to “to conserve biodiversity resources; and to reduce poverty especially among the upland communities,” our goal here is to rekindle our site visitors’ pride in our rich natural heritage and inspire them to contribute in the preservation and development of these natural resources.

The updated site features an interactive, up-to-date events and happenings, news stories and updates within the context of the national park where registrants can get automated reminders for programs. Viewers and stakeholders can also share their views and comments on the featured eco-tourism destinations and projects.

In addition to the site’s many new technical features, the graphic design and interface present a dramatic improvement. We have streamlined the site’s navigation, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. We also created a visual navigation system for the many visitors who simply want to browse around the site without a specific destination. 

We think this presentation will allow our "internet users" the ease and efficiency of rapidly getting to their resources, while simultaneously inviting millions of new users to learn more about the built environment as they can casually browse through articles, media, and archives. 

In the coming months, we will be introducing new site features including customizable pages populated with user defined content, downloadable, at-home educational resources for families, and additional multimedia.