PB okays creation of marine sanctuary

CEBU - The committee on environmental conservation and natural resources of the Cebu Provincial Board has approved the establishment of a marine sanctuary in barangay Poblacion, Tabogon.

PB Member Victor Maambong, in his committee report, endorsed the establishment of the marine sanctuary, saying it will not only protect the town’s marine resources but also ensure abundant catch in the coming years.

The sanctuary will cover an area of 10.5 hectares that will be called a core zone where fishing and other related activities are prohibited.

The establishment of the marine sanctuary, according to the Tabogon Municipal Council, will ensure that breeding areas of fishes and other marine resources are not disturbed so they can continue to flourish naturally.

“The ordinance is an active response to the need to conserve and protect the coastal and marine resources of the municipality,” Maambong said.

Republic Act (RA) 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, requires local government units to establish at least 15 percent of their municipal waters as marine protected areas (MPAs).

The MPAs aims to restore critical marine areas, preserve marine biodiversity, conserve ecosystems, maintain ecological processes and protect marine species.

Maambong, however, said the town failed to show that it had complied with the mandatory posting or publication requirement of the ordinance.

Maambong, a lawyer, advised the town to post or publish the ordinance as mandated by Section 511 of the Local Government Code. — Garry B. Lao/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)