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[av_heading heading=’Deal aims to guard marine protected areas in Guimaras’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Saturday, May 6, 2017
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GUIMARAS – For the first time in Western Visayas, the Environment department and the five municipalities in this island province, along with other stakeholders, agreed to revitalize and strengthen the protection of marine protected areas (MPAs).
The parties vowed to carry out the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP), which involves the comprehensive management and reduction of threats to coastal and marine ecosystems.
Among those who signed the agreement were the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO); local government officials from Buenavista, Jordan, San Lorenzo, Nueva Valencia, and Sibunag; national government agency heads; people’s organization chairpersons; state universities and colleges; and partner agencies.
The agreement, signed on April 4, was called the Guimaras Alliance of Protected Areas and Sanctuaries (GAPAS).
The CMEMP also aims to achieve and promote sustainability of ecosystem services, food security and climate change resiliency.
A P22-million budget will help achieve one objective of the deal — legalize and harmonize transactions extending CMEMP funds to local governments, especially for MPAs not under the Environment department’s jurisdiction but under the management of the local government and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Another objective of the GAPAS deal was the conduct of a knowledge, attitude and practices study in a bid to determine the appropriate livelihood for the concerned communities. The PENRO and the Guimaras State College signed another agreement for the study.
The GAPAS deal also aims to prepare and update management plans to define and demarcate protected and multiple-use zones by installing buoys and secure coral habitats to increase fish production.
“Through this binding pledge, we the local leaders of Guimaras will work toward the sustainability of the island’s resources,” said San Lorenzo Sangguniang Bayan member Constanino Cordero Jr. “Let us make Guimaras a better place to live in.” (DENR/PN)
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