Local government-NGO partnership eyed in marine sanctuary management

Local governments must work in partnership with non-government organizations in managing marine sanctuaries that would be established in coastal towns and cities in Cebu.

This was among the opinions aired during yesterday's public hearing of the proposed marine sanctuary ordinance of Cebu province that Provincial Board member Victor Maambong had filed earlier.

Maambong, chairman of the committee on environment conservation and natural resources, wanted the local governments to identify sites for marine sanctuary in coordination with Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils of every town or city.

Maambong also pushed for the creation of the Marine Sanctuary Commission that has management and regulatory powers over any established sanctuary for sustainable development, conservation and restoration of marine habitat, and drawing more revenues to local government.

Noel Alonzo, of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7, suggested that LGU's could enter into a contract with a NGO or a private entity in managing the marine sanctuary.

While some marine sanctuaries set and managed by LGUs had failed, Alonzo, also the regional coordinator of the management councils' group, said however that active NGOs of fishermen would be given priority in management before getting private corporations into the picture.

Lawyer Liza Osorio, executive director of the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, also cited the effective partnership between NGOs and LGUs.

Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob, for his part, shared the observation that partnership between the LGUs and the private sector would be vital in the development of these sanctuaries. He said that LGUs have the money to carry out the projects although all else is a matter of management.

Groups of fisherfolks, who attended the hearing, were more concerned however on the effect of these sanctuaries to their livelihood.

The Maambong proposal states that, whenever feasible, at least 15 percent of the total coastal areas in each town or city shall be identified and automatically designated a marine sanctuary based on available data from BFAR and Department of Environment and Natural Resources. - Gregg M. Rubio