The existence of the Irrawaddy gives a sort of identity to the LGU and that an apex predator existence means that the water along Bago is ecologically productive. Photos by Kaila Ledesma- Trebol/ University of St. Irrawaddy Dolphins as seen along the coast of Bago- Pulupandan, Negros Occidental Later on, Bago City declared the Irrawaddy Dolphins as their Flagship Species. Thus, their presence in the coastal areas of Bago City denotes a high existence or high productivity of their prey in the area. However, years later, an estimated of 13 individuals had been recorded indicating a decline in the population. The first documented population in 2010 was estimated to have a density of about 21 individuals (Dolar, et al., 2011). Among this are the Municipality of Pulupandan, Negros Occidental where it is considered as critically endangered, and the Island of Palawan. Waters of Bago City is one of the only three sites known to have been inhabited by Irrawaddy Dolphins. With 6,000 left in the wild, they are considered to be the world’s most endangered dolphin species (Yap, 2017). These dolphins are considered as a determinant factor of a rich water resources since it has a certain requirements from its habitat that effectively reflect the health of the ecosystem for other species including humans. This specie was considered as a flagship species for the conservation of Mekong River and they play a vital role in the environment as well as to the people.(Dasgupta, 2018). They are slow swimmers and generally they are very vulnerable from the people.

These dolphins have a bulging forehead, short beak, and a 12- 19 teeth on each side of both jaws. Irrawaddy Dolphin ( Orcaella brevitostrist) or “waddy” can be found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia. One of those endangered species can only be found in various countries of Southeast Asia and this is the Irrawaddy Dolphin. In the last 500 years, human activity has forced over 800 species into extinction” (Kasnoff, 2019). “The total number of extinct species has reached 785 and a further 65 are only found in captivity or cultivation. According to a research conducted, IUCN Organization or the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are now 41, 415 species in the Red List, and 16, 306 of them are endangered species of both plants and animals. It’s alarming to see how the world changes and how it affects not only the people but also the animal living with us. Through the years, facts can be the best proof on how our environment change due to economic growth, industrialization, and other related human interventions. However as time continues to lapse, conserving our natural resources become more far from mainstream. Humans are considered as the nurturer and protector of our environment. As to the Status of Marine Protected Area (MPA) our Key Informants said that there’s already an identified area and they reserved it to restrict the fishermen to catch fish in the area, they will conduct again a rerouting to identify the boundaries of the MPA so they could place buoys around it, and finding the possible the effects of the MPA to the fishermen and for the office to plan other means to address it. Short period of time per day to work, not fully established office, lack of personnel, the “ningas-kugon trait of the residents, Illegal activities of the people, and lack of strict enforcement of laws are the challenges discussed by our Key Informants in the implementation of the laws. La Salle to aid them to further strengthen their work for the protection Irrawaddy Dolphins, educational activities with regard to Irrawaddy Dolphins were already conducted to the residents of Bago, and the employment of “Bantay Dagat” or sea enforces in the area to apprehend those person doing illegal activities on the sea are the programs and methods done by the local government of Bago in compliance with the laws.

Key informants said that they have a continuous study together with the University of St. Key informants were interviewed by the researchers for this study. This study aimed to review the pertinent laws regarding the protection of Habitats of Irrawaddy Dolphins in Bago City, to assess the compliance and challenges of Stakeholders in the implementation of the laws.

Irrawaddy dolphin