TAÑON Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) celebrated its 25th year of establishment with San Carlos City hosting the gathering of local government units and stakeholders at Park Marina, Barangay 3 on Saturday, May 27.
More than 300 individuals from the different towns and cities covered by the TSPS including Negros Oriental officials Mayor Raffy Andaya and Vice Mayor Jeremiah Andaya Ayungon, Mayor Marianne Gustilo of Vallehermoso, and San Carlos City SP Committee Chair on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Armando Laguda Jr., and representatives from OCEANA and Pilipinas Eco-Friendly Mining Corp. joined in the celebration.
The Tañon Strait situated between the provinces of Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Negros Oriental was declared protected thru Presidential Proclamation No. 1234 on May 27, 1998.
This year the celebration anchored on the theme “TSPS @25: Continuing its Legacy for Marine Resources Conservation and Food Sustainability” was organized with different activities such as a dance contest, Binibining TSPS 2023, IEC video presentation (TikTok), spoken poetry, and amazing race challenge.
Negros Occ. PENR Officer Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya said they aimed at increasing the protection and conservation of the protected area because it is one of the residents’ sources of food, especially those living near the coastline.
He hoped that the community will help in protecting the environment by simply disposing of waste properly, which is surely a big help for Tañon Strait.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and District 1 Representative Gerardo Valmayor Jr. reminded the TSPS stakeholders to continue striving for a stronger partnership, engage with the local community, and promote sustainable tourism practices that could benefit both the environment and the people who rely on it.
San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo, on the other hand, told participants that the local government of San Carlos City is willing to lend the city’s speedboat during monitoring of the protected areas and that the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will purchase two speedboats for conservation-related activities.
DENR-Central Visayas Assistant Regional Director for Technical, Charlie Fabre, and Cebu PENR Officer Jose Cleo Cary Colis thanked Gustilo for providing the necessary equipment for the 25th anniversary event.
Fabre and Colis also said they wanted to show the people the progress and achievements in protecting and conserving the TSPS for 25 years.
A community dance wrapped up the event. (PR)