THE Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF) met with eight coastal municipalities for a project implementation orientation on the Danajon Bank Double Barrier Reef Council revival on Wednesday, March 22.
Held at the Talibon Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall, CCEF met with Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (MFARMC) personnel from Tubigon, Clarin, Getafe, Talibon, Buena Vista, Ubay, Bien Unido, and Trinidad.
The orientation tackled policy reforms, harmonizing LGU policies on coastal surveillance and law enforcement, information education campaigns for fisherfolks and coastal residents, workshops on crafting Municipal Coastal Resource Management Plans, and enhancing institutional networking and communication in Danajon Bank.
CCEF’s Executive Director Auburn Patrick Samson said the orientation was also an opportunity for various sectors to share their grievances on existing ordinances and management plans, get involved in re-evaluating strategies, and identify areas that worked and did not work. Various MFARMC personnel shared the obstacles they face in implementing stricter marine environmental ordinances, especially in dealing with illegal fishers entering Marine Protected Areas (MPA).
The Gerry Roxas Foundation’s Project Monitoring Specialist Don Mariano, said the implementation of the project requires a multi-sectoral management approach, where the government and private sectors work hand-in-hand in aquatic resource conservation. “Our goal is to enhance the capabilities of CSOs, IPs, and local communities to participate and advocate for good natural resource governance, especially in coastal resource management.” Mariano said. Mariano added that the project seeks to address issues such as illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, marine pollution, and weak law enforcement.
Talibon Mayor Janette Garcia welcomed the 28 attendees of the orientation and committed to help CCEF in their initiative to conserve the Danajon Bank Double Barrier Reef from environmental degradation. “We are very serious about protecting the Danajon Bank. We will work closely with all sectors involved in the project as environmental protection is a priority in our LGU,” Garcia said.
This initiative by CCEF is in partnership with the Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF,) through the United States Agency For International Development-Investing in Sustainability and Partnerships For Inclusive Growth Regenerative Ecosystem (USAID INSPIRE), the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office (BPEMO), and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
The Danajon Bank Double Barrier Reef is the only double barrier reef found in Asia, one of three found in the Indo-Pacific region, and one of only six in the whole world. The reef is part of Bohol’s Geopark system as it is described as a rare geologic phenomenon not found in other areas in the Philippines. (PiMO/GMC)
