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Article History

Received: 5 March 2025

Accepted: 11 February 2026

First Online: 6 March 2026

Competing interests

: The authors declare no competing interests.

: The ethical framework for this study was developed in alignment with the National Ethical Guidelines for Health and Health-Related Research as mandated by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB). Formal ethical approval and administrative clearance were granted on April 11, 2024, during an official review involving the Center for Research in Environmental Management and Eco-Governance (CREME), the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) Region XIII, and partners from the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC). The study’s objectives, scope, and methodology were reviewed and approved by the Local Government Units (LGUs) through the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), with all stakeholders expressing unanimous support for the research conduct. In accordance with core ethical principles, participation was entirely voluntary, confidential, and free from coercion. All respondents provided informed consent prior to participation. Data management and the protection of personal information were strictly maintained in compliance with the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173), ensuring that sensitive information is used solely for the intended research purposes.

: This study adhered to a multi-layered ethical review process as reviewed and approved by the institutions involved in the project. Data collection occurred from August 19 to 30, 2024, beginning with a comprehensive verbal briefing to ensure a nuanced understanding of the research objectives and participant rights. To mitigate conceptual barriers, verbal informed consent was initially solicited, followed by participant signatures to formally validate voluntary involvement. In accordance with the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173), all respondents were assured of absolute confidentiality. The consent protocol explicitly stipulated that no personal identifiers or participant-specific data would be disclosed in the final publication. Consequently, findings are reported exclusively as de-identified thematic aggregates to protect the privacy and anonymity of the research participants.