Lapu-Lapu rejects invite to join Danajon council

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City council will not join the Danajon Double Barrier Reef Management Council, the objective of which is to protect and save one of the few double barrier reefs in the world, for the reason that Lapu-Lapu City has the capability to manage its municipal waters including its own Danajon Double Barrier Reef. The city government has created 10 marine sanctuaries in the entire Lapu-Lapu City, the council said.

A letter from the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation executive director lawyer Rose-Liza Osorio inviting the city to sign a memorandum of agreement was received by the city which stated that the signing will be held on May 18, 2012 at Tagbilaran City in Bohol.

Last Wednesday, the city council, which held its regular session at the mini city hall in Olango Island, decided not to join.

Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Alexander Gestopa, Jr., chairman of the city council committee on environment, told The Freeman that the council reached the decision because of the short notice and that constituents have to be consulted on this matter.

Councilor Gestopa said the office of City Mayor Paz Radaza last May 15 requested for an authority to sign the proposed memorandum of agreement relative to the creation of the Danajon Double Barrier Reef Management and Conservation of the Danajon Barrier Reef.

Gestopa said this was calendared during the 88th regular session of the city council held last May 16 and was referred to the city council committee on laws and environment.

Gestopa said this particular item was calendared for discussion under “Reportable Item” under the committee on laws and environment, a week after the May 16 regular session which fell short of the tentative schedule of the signing of the MOA.

“Even if it fell short of the tentative schedule of the signing, the city council had a lengthy discussion on the topic where every member present took a stand on the issue,” the resolution said.

The city council has approved a resolution returning to the Office of the City Mayor the endorsement relative to the request for an authority to sign the proposed Memorandum of Agreement submitted by the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation for the Danajon Double Barrier Reef Management and Conservation of the Danajon Double Barrier Reef.

The Freeman learned that the signing of the MOA, headed by Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, pushed through last May 18 in Tagbilaran City.