CEBU, Philippines - At least four governors and several mayors in the Visayas yesterday vowed to join their resources in the fight against illegal fishing and other activities destructive to marine resources.
Their promise was made during the opening of the two-day Visayan Sea Summit at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.
Attended the summit were Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete and Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon.
Mayors of the different cities and municipalities of the four provinces also attended the event.
Garcia said the protection of the Visayan Sea lies in the cooperation of all local chief executives, citing the importance of unity among mayors and governors in the campaign against illegal fishing.
The Cebu provincial government had created the Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force, which already made several arrests against those involved in illegal fishing in the province.
Lanete and Marañon assured their support to the campaign to preserve the region’s marine resources.
They admitted, however, that the success of the program will depend upon the support and cooperation of all sectors.
For his part, Defensor said the summit is importance because it will draw up plans as well as coordination in the fight against illegal fishing.
“Much has been lost in the Visayan Sea which is used to be the richest fishing ground in the entire Asia, said Defensor.
According to Defensor, there should be political will on the part of the local officials to “restore our marine resources within the Visayan Sea.”
“We are meeting to draw up a plan of action and strengthen our commitment and learn among ourselves the best practices that have been done by the participating provinces” said Marañon.
Marañon said the Negros Occidental provincial government and the mayors had signed an agreement to strengthen the fight against illegal fishing.
Environment lawyer and summit convenor Antonio Oposa said he was happy by the commitments made by four governors and the mayors.
Oposa said these officials are from areas whose coastlines need to be rehabilitated and protected.
The four provinces signed a commitment to protect, conserve and restore resources of the Visayan Marine Triangle.
Oposa said decades of abuse and neglect have severely degraded the marine resources of the one-million hectare Visayan Sea, which is now on the brink of collapse.
He hopes that the summit will guide local officials to agree on what to do to address the problem of illegal fishing and destruction of marine resources in the Visayan Sea.
Marañon said efforts of rehabilitating the Visayan Sea, starting with the Visayan Marine Triangle, must start now and everybody should cooperate.
About 70 percent of rich marine resources, especially the corals, of the Visayan Sea have been destroyed by cyanide fishing, blasting, trawling and use of compressors in catching fish, he said.
It will take at least five years to fully rehabilitate the damaged marine resources. – Jose P. Sollano/LPM (THE FREEMAN)