OVER SEAS -- The Online Magazine for Sustainable Seas

Negros Oriental

CRMP’s coverage in Negros Oriental is extensive: seven coastal municipalities and two cities, including the provincial capital, Dumaguete City, and Bais City, the industrial center about 45 km north of Dumaguete. The province is recognized as a pioneer in coastal resource management, largely as a result of work done by researchers of Silliman University, which is noted for its Marine Laboratory at Silliman Farm Beach. Here, a short distance offshore, one finds the country’s first artificial (tire) reef, installed in 1977 and now sheltering diverse marine life. There are more than 20 marine sanctuaries along the coasts of Negros Oriental, including the Apo Island Marine Sanctuary, widely regarded as a model of community-based coastal resource management. Strong local government support and multi-sectoral cooperation play a crucial role in Negros Oriental’s success in sustaining the coastal management programs initiated by the World Bank-assisted Central Visayas Regional Project (1984-1992), Silliman University and other groups.

Protecting Apo
A new resolution designed to enhance protection of the Apo Island Marine Sanctuary was approved in principle last February 17 by the municipal council of Dauin. The resolution covers mainly the entry of tourists in the sanctuary, setting, for example, a limit on the number of divers that enter the sanctuary (10 a day), entrance fees, and underwater shooting fees. Part of the proceeds will go to the community (40%) and the Marine Management Committee (40%) and will be used for the upkeep of the sanctuary. The remainder (20%) will go to the municipality of Dauin.

The Apo Island Marine Sanctuary is widely regarded as one of the most successful community-based marine sanctuaries in the Philippines (it received the "Best Managed Reef" award in December 1997. Its fame has spread far and wide, drawing more and more tourists to the island each year. The sheer number of tourists visiting the island is causing strain on the environment. Apo residents have complained about "some student divers who cause damage to the corals," often because of inexperience. They hope the new rules will help correct the situation.

Trainors train in PCRA
Working with the NGO Ting Matiao Foundation, CRMP completed two trainors’ training workshops on participatory coastal resource assessment (PCRA) for the 18 villages in its learning area in Negros Oriental. The first workshop was held in Manjuyod on February 4-6, the second took place in Dauin on February 9-11. Trainors from these workshops will assist CRMP in training the 18 communities in PCRA. Village training will be completed in March, says CRMP Learning Area Coordinator for Negros Oriental William Ablong. The actual resource assessment, however, will not be completed until December.

CRMP is also assisting the provincial government of Negros Oriental in the development of instructional materials on marine ecology subjects. Starting the next schoolyear, marine ecology will be included in the elementary school curriculum of public schools in the province. This is part of the provincial government’s effort to increase the people’s awareness of the importance of the marine environment..§