diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index faf409d..fa97484 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "0.2.15"
+  ".": "0.2.16"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 42571bc..e518f6b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [0.2.16](https://github.com/harmony-labs/meta/compare/v0.2.15...v0.2.16) (2026-03-05)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* use PR-based sync instead of direct push to protected main ([#44](https://github.com/harmony-labs/meta/issues/44)) ([e65ce03](https://github.com/harmony-labs/meta/commit/e65ce03487a2598250eabb6fd2887f82b2da61ff))
+
 ## [0.2.15](https://github.com/harmony-labs/meta/compare/v0.2.14...v0.2.15) (2026-03-05)
 
 
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 46e57ce..101c3c6 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ exclude = ["agent"]
 resolver = "2"
 
 [workspace.package]
-version = "0.2.15"
+version = "0.2.16"
 edition = "2021"
 license = "MIT"
 repository = "https://github.com/harmony-labs/meta"
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index b005e30..9097948 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.2.15
+0.2.16