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.
New environmental
radio show launched
CRMP, the German Development Service and other concerned groups launched
recently a radio program about the coastal environment. The program,
which is hosted by Rey Bendejo of the Ting Matiao Foundation, will air
for six months. Bendejo plans to hold quiz shows in air to encourage
audience participation and hopes to extend the show for another six
months with the support of sponsors.
Meanwhile, Learning Area Coordinator William Ablong reported that fish
and benthus assessment in selected marine protected areas in Negros
Oriental has started. "We are hoping to do the assessment in five
sites," he said. "There are 22 marine protected areas in Negros
Oriental, and at least 10 of them are in the learning areas. We would
like to know the changes that have occurred in these areas since they
were established."
Learning municipalities
present work plans
Representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,
municipal governments, and the provincial government participated in
a seminar workshop last January 20-21 to discuss the coastal resource
management (CRM) work plans of the learning municipalities of CRMP in
Negros Oriental. CRMP covers 9 municipalities and 1 city in Negros Oriental,
namely, Manjuyod, Tanjay, Amlan, San Jose, Sibulan, Bacong, Dauin, Siaton,
Dumaguete City and Bais City. The plans will be consolidated into one
Learning Area Work Plan for 1999.
The workshop was attended by the Vice Governor of Negros Oriental, who
committed to endorse to the Provincial Board a resolution to allocate
P100,000 of the provincial budget to each of the learning municipalities
for CRM activities.
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