AS CAGAYAN de Oro continues to enjoy growing industries and developments, the Macajalar Bay Development Alliance (MBDA) said the city must also step up in implementing policies to protect the city's coastal areas.
During its appearance at the City Council on Monday, the MBDA pointed out that Cagayan de Oro needs to improve its coastal management.
Hilly Ann Roa-Quiaoit of the MBDA said, it is difficult to maintain healthy bay particularly in the city since this is where urban development is.
"It is difficult to balance economics and environmental protection especially in a city," Quiaoit said.
The environmental group was in the City Council to present the 10-year plan of the MBDA in their coastal management plan. The plan includes expanding marine protected areas in each of the 14-member municipalities and establishing zonation along the coastal areas.
Quiaoit said they need the approval of the City Council so the city will also adopt the 10-year plan.
"It is important to establish zoning, to identify which areas are okay with tourism and which areas are prohibited with any developments to preserve our seas," she said.
Christine Galarrita, also of the MBDA said, over the years, the local government units from Laguindingan to Kinoguitan are supportive of their plan, and some are really taking seriously the campaign by allocating budgets for coastal management.
Galarrita said they want all coastal areas of Misamis Oriental, along the Macajalar Bay, to be like Laguindingan cited for having the cleanest coastline in the country.
According to MBDA, the Macajalar Bay is a major fishing ground in Misamis Oriental of Region 10, Northern Mindanao. It is 50-km wide at the mouth and 30-km long, with an area approximately 1000 km2. It is considered the gateway to Northern Mindanao, with heavy, medium, to light industries, with rapid development and strong coastal migration, threatening the condition of the bay.
MBDA is composed of the provincial government of Misamis Oriental and 14 coastal local government units (LGUs), namely: Cagayan de Oro City (Chartered), El Salvador City (Component), Alubijid, Balingasag, Binuangan, Jasaan, Kinoguitan, Lagonglong, Laguindingan, Opol, Salay, Sugbongcogon, Tagoloan and Villanueva.