PERSPECTIVE Philippine Journal of Science 149 (3): ix-xii, September 2020 ISSN 0031 - 7683 Wilfredo Y. Licuanan 1,2 * Current Management, Conservation, and Research Imperatives for Philippine Coral Reefs 1 Br. Alfred Shields FSC Ocean Research Center, De La Salle University, Manila 1004 Philippines 2 Biology Department, De La Salle University, Manila 1004 Philippines The recent nationwide assessment of 206 fringing reefs in the Philippines revealed the loss of one-third of their hard-coral cover such that none qualified to be in excellent status. These findings, taken in the light of recently published studies showing that marine protected areas (MPAs) by themselves are not sufficient to protect corals and coral reefs against climate change impacts, indicate the need for urgent management and conservation action. We must implement statistically robust, methodologically-sound monitoring of reefs coupled with local and national government action to manage and protect reefs from the direct impacts of human activities. Laws and regulations must also be reviewed and updated. We must also identify and map the well-developed reefs in the country. These reefs tend to have higher coral cover and diversity and have endured the environmental challenges over thousands of years. With our help, they may serve as Noah’s ark reefs of the future. Keywords: climate change, coral cover, coral reefs, diversity, monitoring *Corresponding Author: wilfredo.licuanan@dlsu.edu.ph Coral reefs are significant to the Philippines, not just in terms of their contribution to the economy (Tamayo et al. 2018) but to food security (Cabral and Geronimo 2018) and shoreline protection (Villanoy et al. 2012). The outstanding biodiversity that local reefs harbor is also globally significant (Sanciangco et al. 2013). Sadly, the results of a recent nationwide assessment (Figure 1) indicate the loss of about a third of the corals in these reefs such that none of the 206 stations surveyed qualified to be in “excellent” status (AM Licuanan et al. 2017; WY Licuanan et al. 2019a). As this loss occurred, management and conservation action had been limited to a ban on the collection and export of reef-building corals (a policy that is currently being reconsidered) and the establishment of MPAs. But MPA establishment in the country is mostly aimed at fishery enhancement. Yet, most MPAs are too small to offer appreciable protection to reef fish stocks (median diameter of 387 m in Philippine MPAs vs. 2 km worldwide; Krueck et al. 2018; see also Muallil et al. 2019). Most MPAs in the Philippines are hampered by significant social, economic, and even political constraints of the local governments involved (Muallil et al. 2019). Hence, more recent efforts involve MPA networks, protected seascapes, fisheries management areas, and a greater emphasis on ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries (see WY Licuanan et al. 2019b). MPAs, even if embedded within networks, would still have to be far larger if they are to have conservation benefits and if there is little or no regulation of fisheries exploitation rates in adjacent areas (Gaines et al. 2010; Muallil et al. 2019). The loss in 2016 of 30% of ix