Guvs agree to stop marine abuses

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

FOUR governors of provinces that border the Visayan Sea Marine Triangle have committed to protect the body of water during the first day of the two-day Visayan Sea Summit in Lapu-Lapu City.

Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon and Masbate Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete yesterday said it’s time to stop abusing the marine environment.

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Garcia said they are willing to set aside their busy schedules to draft plans to protect and manage coastal and marine resources.

Their commitment of support will be formalized in a covenant that will be signed today, together with 15 mayors whose towns are surrounded by the Visayan Sea.

Historic occasion

Environmental lawyer and Magsaysay Award recipient Antonio Oposa Jr. described the summit as a historic occasion, with the governors showing their political will to protect the Visayan Sea, which used to be rich in marine resources.

“We do not need more laws. We just need to implement what we already have,” he said in his presentation.

He said the Visayan Sea is currently on the brink of collapse.

In a presentation, he showed the poor condition of coral reefs and the decimated sea grass beds.

Fish catch in the area has also declined since 1987. Municipal fishermen used to haul 1,500 kilograms of fish annually, Oposa said, but since 1996, this has dropped to 1,100 kilograms per year.

He quoted a GMA news website report that stated that the country loses around P8.41 billion yearly due to overfishing, water pollution and unsustainable fishing practices. He said this was based on a joint report of the Philippine Government and the World Bank.

Oposa said the amount is enough to pay for the enrolment of two million high school students.

Governor’s commendations

In a related development, the Cebu Provincial Government yesterday handed out the governor’s commendations to agencies and individuals who have played a vital role in preserving and protecting coastal and marine resources.

The recipients were the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Navy, the National Bureau of Investigation, the 78th Infantry Battalion, the Cebu Provincial Police Office, the Coast Guard, Mario Marababol of Ocean Care and Marlito Guidote of the United Nations Marine Coral Triangle Project.