Masbate town wants revenue from Cebu’s diving spot

CEBU, Philippines — The Municipality of Esperanza in the Province of Masbate wants revenues derived from eco-tourism activities in La Manok or Manoc-Manoc Island off the northernmost tip of the Province of Cebu be accrued to them.

The move is just awaiting the approval of the Municipality of Daanbantayan in the Province of Cebu.

La Manok Island is located between the provinces of Masbate and Cebu. Both LGUs have claimed jurisdiction over the island.

According to wikimapia.org, La Manok Island is located in the Visayan sea between Masbate and Cebu, but geographically speaking, it is part of Masbate.

Vismin.ph also said that La Manok is under the jurisdiction of Masbate province. It is accessible by a 35-45-minute boat ride from Carnaza Island, a barangay of Daanbantayan, or a 50-60-minute boat ride from Masbate.

On Wednesday, the Sangguniang Bayan of Daanbantayan, Cebu is set to deliberate a resolution authorizing Mayor Sun Shimura to enter into and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Municipality of Esperanza represented by Mayor Fernando Talisic for the joint protection, preservation, and sustainable development of La Manok Island.

The proposed resolution stated that the island “needs to be preserved, protected and maintained of its pristine and unspoiled ecological status for the benefit of the present and future generations of Filipinos and this can only be achieved if both LGUs share common interest on the island shall agree, cooperate and coordinate in its protection.”

“There is a need to put in place all the responsibilities of both parties, the Municipality of Daanbantayan and Municipality of Esperanza, thru the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding,” read the proposed resolution sponsored by Councilor Lolita Ybañez.

Copy of the draft MOU obtained by The FREEMAN stated that the Municipality of Daanbantayan shall support the initiatives of the Municipality of Esperanza in securing stewardship or any appropriate tenurial instrument over the terrestrial and fluvial domain of the island for eco-tourism purposes.

The Municipality of Esperanza shall apply and secure with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Bureau of Forest Management an appropriate tenurial instrument for its primary stewardship of the island for eco-tourism purposes and the Municipality of Daanbantayan shall support such endeavor by agreeing to be its co-steward.

The Municipality of Daanbantayan shall include, through an Executive Order, the La Manok or Manoc-Manoc Island in the municipality’s list of tourist destinations and island hopping, snorkeling or diving sites with “the revenues derived from such island visits, snorkeling, diving and other eco-tourism activities accruing exclusively to the Municipality of Esperanza.”

The parties shall exercise co-administration over the marine waters of La Manok or Manoc-Manoc Island by coordinating efforts in the protection, preservation and responsible utilization of its marine resources.

The two local government units shall also conduct regular joint patrols and fishery law enforcement actions through their respective Bantay Dagat personnel with focus on prohibiting commercial fishing activities in the area.

The parties shall likewise create the Island's Joint Technical Working Group (TWG) co-headed by their respective Municipal Agricultural Officers to determine and establish the carrying capacity of the island in respect to the number of municipal fisherfolks which the marine area can accommodate daily or per season and to adopt the national policy of annual closed season enjoined over the Visayan Sea.

The parties through the recommendation of the Island's TWG may establish a system of accreditation of fisherfolks to fish in the area and charge respectively regulatory fees thereof.

The MOU shall constitute as preliminary undertaking of the parties towards entering into a twinning or sisterhood agreement which may expand the areas of cooperation of the parties as to include common interests and benefits in the field of culture, business, arts, education and the like.  – GAN (FREEMAN)