Phl's only facility of its kind Coastal mgt center to rise in Siquijor

LARENA, Siquijor , Philippines— Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF) Inc., headed by executive director Rose-Liza Eisma Osorio held its groundbreaking rites recently for the construction of its P1.2 million Coastal Resource Management Learning Center in this town of Siquijor province.

The construction of the building is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the US Department of State, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) or German Development Service and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

A contract was signed by Osorio, Dr. Rolito Estrellado, representative of SUC and the contractor to formalize their cooperation in the construction and development of the learning center in the island.

Osorio told with The Freeman there are two projects established in the whole country: First is the Fish Center in Talibon, Bohol; and the second is CRMLC to be built in Siquijor.

“This is the only learning center for the Coastal Resource Management (CRM) project in the Philippines as foreign-funded through CCEF,” Osorio said, adding that it best symbolizes the strong enforcement of coastal resource management projects in the island over the last 10 years.

Osorio announced that, in the next few months, foreign guests from Malaysia and Vietnam will visit the center here. “It is with this pride that Siquijor has this center to benefit students, farmers and fishermen and LGUs,” she said.

The provincial government, represented by Provincial Board Member Arturo Pacatang lauded the initiative of the foundation and promised continued support of all its programs and projects in the island.