Protect Visayan Sea

CEBU, Philippines - Four governors in the Visayas are calling on President Benigno Aquino III to declare the Visayan Sea Triangle a protected area.

The call is contained in a resolution passed during the 6th Visayan Sea Summit in Negros last Friday. It wants to declare and establish as protected area the waters beyond the 15-kilometer radius of municipalities and cities surrounding the Visayan Sea.

The resolution was signed by Governors Alfredo Marañon Jr. of Negros Occidental, Arthur Defensor Sr. of Ilo-ilo, Rizalina Seachon-Lanete of Masbate, and Hilario Davide III of Cebu who was represented by Ricardo Lachica.

“We want to establish the entire Visayan Sea as the biggest marine protected area in the Philippines, ensuring that the biodiversity and marine life will be protected for generations to come,” the resolution reads.

“We are asking the national government agencies to not only take the lead but to pledge their support by providing personnel, necessary funds and make this as the priority of their respective agencies or departments,” it reads further.

Defensor who moved for the passage of the resolution said the same will be forwarded to Aquino for approval.

No commercialfishing

In effect, the resolution seeks to protect small fishermen since no commercial fishing vessels will be allowed to encroach in the municipal waters within the 15-kilometer shoreline radius of the 23 local government units in the Visayan Sea Triangle.

“Our marine resources are our richest resource… We have to be very strict on the protected area,” Marañon said.

He challenged the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to come up with a unified policy to protect the Visayan Sea, which covers four provinces and three regions.

The governors said that if the people can manage the sustainability of the Visayan Sea properly, the sea can feed the whole country and neighboring Asian countries.

The resolution points out, “realizing that after decades of abuse and neglect, the marine resources of the Philippines in general and the Visayan Sea in particular have been severely degraded and are now on the brink of collapse.”

“Recognizing that our marine resources must be conserved for the enjoyment, not only of a few for the limited present times, but for all Filipinos; both present and future generations, in keeping with the pursuit of sustainable development,” it reads further.

The resolution states that commercial fishing still persists despite efforts of local government units to protect their local waters that are reserved for small and marginal fisher folk.

The governors agree that there is a need to widen the conservation area for the Visayan Sea, which, in turn, will widen the breeding area of diverse marine life therein.

Sought for comment, Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro said he move is "good news" for his constituents because commercial fishing has reportedly been a prevalent problem in the town.

"Ang nakapadagan nako gyod sa politika is illegal fishing... This (development) is what I was really waiting for. It's a relief. It's really a big development. Ikasudyaka gyod ni sa mga tawo dinhi sa Daanbantayan," he told The Freeman.

Corro, emphasized, however that illegal fishing has started to dwindle with the help of Loy Anthony Madrigal, the former chief of the province's Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force. After resigning from the Capitol, Madrigal worked with the Alliance of LGUs for Emergency Reduction and Response on Threats as consultant.

Madrigal earlier said part of the ALERRT's duty is to curb illegal fishing, which he said is imminent threat to small fisher folks.

Daanbantayan is a member of ALERRT along with Bogo City and the municipalities of San Remigio and Sta. Fe.

In a separate interview, San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez also commended the move of the four governors, saying a backing from Malacañang would strengthen ongoing efforts against illegal fishing and protect marine resources in the province.

"I think the provincial government is in the right direction. Ato gyod tabangan atong gagmay’ng mananagat kay basin mawad-an pod inatwn sila panginabuhian," Martinez said. — PNA with Michael Vencynth H. Braga/JMO (FREEMAN)