Bongsanglay Natural Park, Nature park on Ticao Island, Philippines
Bongsanglay Natural Park is a protected area of mangrove forests and swamps on Ticao Island in the Philippines. The site covers approximately 244 hectares along Biton Bay and is managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The area was established as a Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve in 1981 under President Ferdinand Marcos. It gained its natural park classification in 2000 under President Estrada.
Local fishers have lived alongside the mangrove forests for generations, using traditional methods that are still visible in their daily work. Visitors walking through the park can observe how the community depends on and moves within this environment.
The best way to explore the site is to walk the elevated boardwalk that runs through the mangrove forests and allows you to see the ecosystem up close. Check with the Batuan municipality before your visit to learn about access conditions and whether guides are available.
The park preserves a rare primary mangrove forest that serves as a refuge for bird species and other wildlife found nowhere else in the surrounding region. Many visitors come expecting only a swamp but discover a rich ecosystem with surprising biodiversity.
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