Coming soon... "Si Luntian sa Mata ng Kabataan"
The Genesis of a Green Revolution: A History of Stewardship
Port Barton, Palawan, is a place of profound beauty, a UNESCO-recognized biodiversity hotspot where the fate of the community is intrinsically tied to the health of its ocean. Yet, for years, this heritage has been under siege. Beginning in 2018, rapid, unplanned tourism growth threatened to collapse the marine park within a decade, leaving our coral cover critically depleted and our ecosystem "tortured" by pollution and neglect.
This crisis demanded more than cleanup drives; it required a structural revolution in governance.
The history of this revolution begins with the Port Barton Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BANGKEROS), the original Coastal Sentinels and guardians of the Port Barton Marine Park (PBMP). Drawing upon the foundational spirit of stewardship passed down from the first Marine Park Chairperson, Zacarias Cabungan, the BANGKEROS—led by our Chief Strategist and founder, Moises David D. Cabungan—developed a comprehensive action plan.
The birthplace of this new vision was the BANGKEROS Development Plan. Under its strategic roadmap, known as the 4DR MACHINES Framework, a dedicated Luntian Committee was established. This committee, tasked with implementing reliable programs for the community and environment, created and formulated the specialized GEM-Cooperative—the cornerstone of the entire "Ang Luntiang Pangarap" Master Plan.
The GEM-Cooperative was conceived as a systematic counter-measure to external forces that favor large corporations over local stewards—a challenge our community calls the "Timberland Trap." By transforming local organizations into policy-compliant, economically autonomous cooperatives, we established the community as the standard for sustainable development.
The GEM-Coop is not a traditional organization. It is a powerful, legally engineered solution designed to ensure that the community—and not outside political or corporate interests—is in perpetual control of our most valuable resource: the Port Barton Marine Park.
The Problem We Had to Solve
Before we could begin true restoration, we had to fix the foundation of our governance. Our analysis showed that previous management efforts failed due to three critical, recurring issues:
- Political Interference: Management teams were easily dissolved or compromised by shifting political agendas.
- Resource Erosion (The "Timberland Trap"): Local enterprises often lacked the proper legal status to access financing or compete, leaving the door open for external corporate interests to extract resources.
- Funding Instability: Enforcement costs relied on unpredictable government funds, meaning our Guardians couldn't patrol effectively when the budget ran dry.
The GEM-Coop was conceived as a legal and financial shield to address these weaknesses head-on.
Our Vision
The vision is enshrined in the Ang Luntiang Pangarap Master Plan, which is guided by the Three Strategic Pillars of Luntian:
- Pillar I: Resilient Community & Enterprise: Focused on creating sustainable livelihoods and a robust, circular local economy.
- Pillar II: Innovative Environmental Restoration & Protection: Committed to actively rehabilitating the marine park and securing unassailable legal and physical security.
- Pillar III: Next-Generation Engagement & Global Outreach: Focused on youth empowerment and transforming the visitor experience through digital innovation (the LUNTIAN Digital Hub).
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Our Unified Ecosystem
The Luntian Wonders Organization (LWO) Secondary Cooperative (Proposed) is the umbrella entity that unifies, coordinates, and provides strategic oversight for all the primary GEM-Coops in Port Barton.
The LWO is composed of the following specialized GEM-Cooperative entities:
Luntian Strategic & Technical Advisory Group (LSTAG) (Proposed GEM-Cooperative)
This exclusive group is composed of the Master Plan's institutional co-founders—a specialized council of cross-sectoral experts including veteran legislators, technical engineers, specialized educators, and seasoned entrepreneurs. United by a profound commitment to the founder's advocacy, the LSTAG is legally mandated to leverage its proprietary expertise to ensure the operational integrity, legal security, and financial self-sufficiency of Ang Luntiang Pangarap
The LSTAG will officially register as a Primary Service Cooperative—a highly specialized legal entity—after all proposed GEM-Coops have been established and recognized.
BANGKEROS Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Executive Command: Fleet management (sea/land transport), and enforcement via the ICMS.
Luntian Women's Producers GEM-Coop (LWPGC)
Enforcement and Production: Maiden Marshals (Park Enforcers) and Value-Added Product Enterprise (aquaculture, upcycling).
Member of the Operations Command Council.
Luntian Darapiton AC (LDAC)
Resource Management: Guardians of the forest, and mangroves; co-manages the Ang Luntiang Dahon ng Taglagas (Name a Mangrove Scheme).
Member of the Operations Command Council / Luntian Mangrove Rangers.
Luntian Brotherhood Unite Council (LBUC)
Overall Enforcement and Resource Management: The Mother Guardian Unit, will manage the Waste to Wonder Project by collecting the plastic garbage and re-fabricate into construction materials.
Mother unit f the Operation Command Council / Luntian Park Ranger/Protector
Luntian Youth MPC (Eco-Warriors)
Digital and Admin Support: Formerly the Environmental Advocates, now serves as the PBMP Command Staff (Admin & Digital Office) and digital marketing arm.
Implements the Admin & Digital Office.
GEM-Lab Cooperative
Next-Generation Pipeline: Laboratory cooperative affiliated with BANGKEROS MPC to train the future generation of Eco-Warriors, ensuring a continuous supply of certified Green Job professionals.
Feeds trained members into the Guardian Force.
The GEM-Cooperative: Policy Fused with Enterprise
The GEM-Cooperative (Governance and Enterprise Model) is not simply a name; it is a sophisticated legal architecture designed to create unassailable legal and financial security for the community's assets.
The model achieves this by mandating the fusion of three powerful Philippine policy instruments:
- RA 9520 (The Cooperative Code): Provides the foundational legal personality, granting the cooperatives juridical status, access to government support, and crucial economic privileges, such as the preferential right to supply government agencies.
- DAO 2017-08 (The Green Economy Model Directive): Grants institutional legitimacy and a regulatory shield. This DENR status legally reclassifies the cooperative’s commercial ventures (like aquaculture) not as simple extraction, but as essential developmental and environmental programs under the DENR mandate, securing priority status within the protected area.
RA 10771 (The Green Jobs Act of 2016): Provides financial sustainability by certifying all stewardship roles (like the Maiden Marshals) as Green Jobs. This status unlocks a 150% special tax deduction for skills training and R&D, effectively subsidizing the professionalization of our Guardian Force.
Our Guiding Compass: The L.U.N.T.I.A.N. Core Values
The integrity of our operations and the promise of equal opportunity are non-negotiable. Our governance is based on the 9th of BANGKEROS Philosophy: Quality (Kalidad) is our King, and Justice (Katarungan) is our absolute Order.
This unwavering commitment to equity is enforced by the very technology we are going to use—the Intelligent Cooperative Management System (ICMS)—which ensures fair job distribution and prevents internal corruption.
The collective spirit and ambition of the Luntian Wonders Organization are captured in our core values:
L
Leader in Sustainable Tourism
We lead by example, setting the highest environmental and ethical standards for every visitor experience within the PBMP.
U
Unites the Community
We reject division, consolidating all sectors—from fisherfolk and farmers to youth and IPs—under the shared mission of Ang Luntiang Pangarap.
N
Navigates with Innovation
We leverage digital technology (LUNTIAN Digital Hub, ICMS/LETS) and advanced science (Genesis Reef restoration) to solve complex conservation problems.
T
Trustworthy and Transparent
Our financial governance and ICMS protocols ensure full visibility, guaranteeing that collected Eco-Taxes are dedicated exclusively to marine conservation.
I
Integrity in Action
We uphold the Justice (Katarungan) principle, ensuring equitable income distribution and zero tolerance for non-compliance among our members.
A
Accountable to Nature and Members
We accept responsibility for the current coral cover and commit to measurable, data-backed restoration goals, monitored by our Guardian Force.
N
Nurtures Future Generations
We actively invest in our youth pipeline through the GEM-Lab Coop, ensuring local expertise and professionalized Green Jobs secure our heritage for decades.
GEM-Cooperativein Action
Park Educator
Park Enforcer
Park Enforcer
Luntian Eco-Warrioe
Park Enforcer
Park Enforcer
Park Enforcer
Luntan Maiden Marshal
Park Protector
Mangrove Guardian
Mangrove Guardian
Luntian Reef Ranger
Mangrove Guardian
Mangrove Guardian
Mangrove Guardian
Luntian Mangrove Guardians