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[av_heading heading=’3 prov’l governors agree to protect Visayan Sea ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – Three provincial governors signed a covenant with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to protect the Visayan Sea.
The signing was held in Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo where the governors and BFAR officials held a meeting on July 22 to primarily address the problem on illegal fishing.
The Visayan Sea is one of the richest fishing grounds in the country. It is surrounded by the islands of three Visayas regions – Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas located to the east and west, and Central Visayas to the south.
The Visayan Sea is bounded by the islands Masbate to the north, Leyte to the east, Cebu and Negros to the south and Panay to the west.
Governors Arthur Defensor Sr. and Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. of Iloilo and Negros Occidental, respectively, signed the covenant. Cebu governor Jun Davide Jr. sent a representative.
Director Eduardo Gongona signed the covenant on behalf of BFAR.
The signatories agreed on the following:
* cooperate to pursue and promote the goals and objectives of each party in the conservation, protection and restoration of the Visayan Sea
* collaborate and cooperate in the declaration of the Visayan Sea as a “fishery management area”
* adopt a “Management Framework for the Conservation, Protection and Restoration of the Visayan Sea” which will be the basis of a joint management plan by each province
* share counterpart resources on the agreed joint initiatives which includes but not limited to fund, expert personnel and facilities, as appropriate, and subject to the availability of resources; and
* share relevant technical information, provide copies of publication and research materials and allow linking and information sharing
Also, a management council will be constituted and composed of the governors and regional directors of BFAR regions 5, 6 and 7. This council will be the policymaking body for the Visayan Sea.
A technical working group will also be formed to provide the necessary support to the management council.
The governors and BFAR also outlined the responsibilities and contributions of local government units (LGUs) whose waters shall within the area of the Visayan Sea in the protection, management and conservation of the sea. These were as follows:
- provinces, cities and municipalities shall conduct massive education and information campaign to increase awareness among the Visayan Sea stakeholders
- assist and ensure compliance with environmental laws, and conduct regular coastal law enforcement within the municipal waters surrounding Visayas Sea
The governors and BFAR also agreed to assist these LGUs in the adaptation and implementation of the Visayan Sea Management Framework and Fisheries Management Plan through local ordinances.
The BAR national, regional and provincial offices, on the other hand, will have the following responsibilities:
* take the lead in the management of waters beyond 15 kilometers of municipal waters of surrounding LGUs within the Visayan Sea
* assist and provide technical assistance to LGUs in the implementation of the Fisheries Code as amended and the implementing rules and regulations, within their respective municipal waters
* provide one dedicated unit of vessel for management councils to be specifically assigned with the Visayan Sea
* lead in the preparation of the Management Framework and Fisheries Management Plan for the Visayan Sea in collaboration with the LGU provinces, cities and municipalities and other partner-stakeholders; and
* allocate funds for the implementation of Visayan Sea Management Framework and Fisheries Management Plan.
BFAR shall also assign a technical staff per region for research and data-banking to ensure knowledge sharing between the parties.
Joining the governors in the Sicogon meeting were the Special Counsel of the Ombudsman for Environmental Law Atty. Tony Oposa, mayors of northern Iloilo, representative from BFAR Region 6, Philippine Coast Guard, and other stakeholders./PN
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