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AKO'Y LUBOS NA NAGAGALAK NA MAKASAMA SA ARAW NA ITO ANG ATING MASISIPAG
NA PUNONG-BAYAN NA NARIRITO PARA SA CONFERENCE OF COASTAL MUNICIPALITIES
IN THE PHILIPPINES. LUBHANG MAHALAGA ANG OKASYONG ITO DAHIL KRITIKAL NA ANG KALAGAYAN NG ATING KARAGATAN AT NG MGA PAMAYANAN NA UMAASA
DITO. APEKTADO RIN NG PROBLEMANG ITO ANG MGA TAO
SA LAHAT NG DAKO -- SA LUNGSOD
MAN AT MAGING SA KABUNDUKAN.
SA AKING UNANG STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS NOONG
NAKARAANG TAON, AKO'Y NAGING
TAPAT AT TUWIRANG IN1LAHAD ANG TUNAY NA KALAGAYANG PAMPULITIKA AT PANG-EKONOMIYA NG ATING BANSA. TATAPATIN KO RIN KAYO NGAYON SA AKING
ULAT TUNGKOL SA KALAGAYAN NG
ATING KARAGATAN AT NG ATING MGA KABABAYANG UMAASA DITO.
THE PHILIPPINE SEAS -- THE VERY LIFEBLOOD
OF OUR PEOPLE -- ARE BEING DEGRADED SO FAST THAT WE STAND TO LOSE THE
RESOURCES THAT SUSTAIN A LARGE PART OF OUR COUNTRY'S FOOD SECURITY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND ONCE
WE LOSE THOSE RESOURCES, WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BRING THEM BACK.
OUR CORAL REEFS AND MANGROVE FORESTS
HAVE SERIOUSLY DWINDLED. FISHERMEN
CAN NOW BARELY FEED THEIR FAMILIES WITH THEIR CATCH. OUR COASTAL ENVIRONMENT IS RAPIDLY DECLINING. THE BEACHES WE ARE LOSING TO POLLUTION AND
UNCONTROLLED DEVELOPMENT, AND THE SOARING PRICES OF HARVESTS FROM THE
SEA ARE JUST TWO OF THE MOST OBVIOUS INDICATORS OF THIS DECLINE.
NAKALULUNGKOT ISIPIN NA ANG LAPU-LAPU, MAYA-MAYA, TALAKITOK AT TANGIGUE -- NA DATING ITINUTURING NA PANGKARANIWANG ISDA
-- AY HINDI NA KAYANG B1LHIN NGAYON
NG MASANG PILIPINO DAHIL SA PATULOY NA PAGTAAS NG PRESYO NG MGA ITO.
THIS IS MOST UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE WE
ARE A MARITIME NATION. OUR COUNTRY
IS RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY AS THE CENTER OF THE RICHEST TROPICAL MARINE
BIODIVERSITY IN THE WORLD, WITH OVER 400 SPECIES OF CORALS, MORE THAN
HALF OF ALL CORAL SPECIES WORLDWIDE.
OUR SEAS SUPPLY US WITH MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF OUR ANNUAL DIETARY
PROTEIN. OUR COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES CONTRIBUTE
MORE THAN 140 BILLION PESOS TO THE ECONOMY EACH YEAR.
YET, WE HAVE ALSO EARNED THE DISTINCTION
OF BEING THE MOST LIKELY PLACE IN THE WORLD TO LOSE THIS NATIONAL WEALTH
WITHIN THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS, IF WE DO NOT TAKE DECISIVE ACTION NOW.
PAANO ITO NANGYARI? ITO AY SA DAHILANG INA-ANI NATIN NG SOBRA ANG ATING MGA
ISDA, PATI NA ANG MGA MALILIIT, KAYA HINDI S1LA NAGKAKAROON NG PAGKAKATAONG
DUMAMI.
ANG MGA BATUHAN SADAGAT KUNG SAAN LUMALAKI ANG MGA ISDA, AY ATING
PINASASABOG, NILALASON, KINUKUHA PARA IPAGBILI,
0 BINU-BULLDOZER PARA SA
REKLAMASYON. ANG ATING MGA BAKAWAN AY ATING SINISIRA PARA GUMAWA NG MGA PALAISDAAN NA IILAN LAMANG ANG NAKIKINABANG.
KAHIT NA ANG ATING EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE
AY PATULOY NA PINAGKUKUNAN NG HULI NG MGA DAYUHANG MANGINGISDA.
HINAYAAN NATING MANGYARI ANG LAHAT NANG ITO DAH1L AKALA NATIN AY WALANG PAGKA-UBOS
ANG BIYAYANG NAKUKUHA SA DAGAT. ANG
HINDI NATIN ALAM AY UNTI-UNTI NA
R1N NATING NINANAKAW ANG KABAHAGI SA ATING LIKAS-YAMAN NG ATING MGA ANAK
AT SA MGA PILIPINONG 1PAPANGANAK PA LAMANG.
WE HAVE MISSED THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS
THAT SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT US OUT OF OUR COMPLACENCY. WE HAVE TAKEN THE THREATS TO OUR SEAS FOR GRANTED
FOR SO LONG THAT NOW WE MUST FACE UP TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE IN NEED
OF EMERGENCY ATTENTION AND INTENSIVE CARE.
TAPOS NA ANG PANAHON NG PAGWAWALANG-BAHALA. WE HAVE
RUN OUT OF TIME AND WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS. KAILANGAN
NA NATING UMAKSIYON KUNG NAIS NATING
MA Y PAKINABANG PA TAYONG MAKUKUHA SA ATING MGA DAGAT.
MAPIPIGILAN PA RIN NATIN ANG PAGKAWALA NG ATING MGA BIYAYANG-DAGAT KUNG ATING
GUGUSTUHIN. NANG ATING IPAGDIWANG
ANG INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE OCEAN NOONG
NAKARAANG TAON, MARAMING GAWAIN ANG NAGANAP KUNG SAAN 1PINAKITA NG
MAHIGIT SA ISANG M1LYONG PIL1PINO KUNG GAANO KAHALAGA ANG KARAGATAN SA
AT1NG BUHA Y.
ITO ANG DAH1LAN KUNG BAKIT AKO AY NAGPALABAS NG PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION NO. 57 NA DINEKLARA ANG BUWAN NG MAYO BILANG MONTH
OF THE OCEAN SA PIL1PINAS BAWA'T
TAON. INAASAHAN KO NA SA PAMAMAGITAN
NITO, MABIBIGYAN NATIN NG PANSIN
ANG KALAGAYAN NG ATING MGA DAGAT, MAKAGAGAWA TAYO NG TAMANG HAKBANG PARA IBALIK ANG DATI NITONG YAMAN, AT IPABATLD
SA MADLA ANG ANUMANG TAGUMPAY
NA ATING MAKAKAMIT.
IN ORDER FOR US TO SAVE OUR SEAS, WE
MUST BEGIN TODAY BY CHANGING OUR PERSPECTIVE OF OUR OCEAN AND COASTS AND
RECOGNIZE THE REAL VALUE OF THESE NATIONAL ASSETS. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE WORTH MORE THAN THEIR FISHERIES. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT OUR FISHERIES CAN ONLY
LAST FOR SO LONG AS OUR MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT REMAINS INTACT
AND HEALTHY, AND ITS RICH DIVERSITY IS PRESERVED.
WE MUST BEGIN TODAY TO ENSURE THAT
FUTURE GENERATIONS OF FILIPINOS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RESOURCES OF OUR
SEAS.
WE WILL BEGIN TODAY BY ENSURING THAT
MUNICIPAL WATERS ARE FOR MUNICIPAL FISHERFOLKS. INTERVENTIONS THAT ENABLE
THE RECOVERY OF MUNICIPAL FISHERIES SHALL TAKE PRECEDENT OVER ALL OTHER
USES OF MUNICIPAL WATERS. THE
PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998 CLEARLY STATES THAT PREFERENTIAL USE
OF MUNICIPAL WATERS SHALL BE GIVEN TO REGISTERED MUNICIPAL FISHERMEN.
MALIWANAG ANG SINASABI NG ATING BATAS: BAGO ANG IBA, ANG MAL1LI1T NATING MANGINGISDA
MUNA ANG DAPAT MAKINABANG SA ATING MGA TUBIGANG-BAYAN.
WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
TO CONTINUE CONDUCTING RESEARCH STUDIES THAT WILL PROVIDE THE CRITICAL
DATA WE NEED TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS ABOUT COASTAL RESOURCE USE. AND WE SHOULD URGE NGO'S AND PEOPLE'S ORGANIZATIONS
TO SUPPORT LOCAL COASTAL MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES.
I HAVE CLOSELY MONITORED YOUR
CONFERENCE AND I AM HAPPY YOUR RESOLUTIONS INCLUDE: ONE, TO INCREASE NATIONAL
FUNDING FOR COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT UNDER WHICH YOU HAVE ASKED FOR
THE CERTIFICATION OF A BILL AMENDING THE PRESENT SHARING OF THE INTERNAL
REVENUE ALLOTMENTS OR IRA, PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE
OF PATROL BOATS, AND GETTING A SHARE FROM THE FEES OF THE PHILIPPINE PORTS
AUTHORITY; AND SECOND, TO DEFINE AND STREAMLINE MANDATES, ROLES, FUNCTIONS,
RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES INVOLVED IN COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
LASTLY, YOU HAVE A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE COMPLIANCE
WITH LEGAL MANDATES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
IN RESPONSE TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS,
I AM DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, TOGETHER
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, TO REVIEW AND STUDY
THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THEM. 1 HAVE ALSO ASKED THEM TO
FINALIZE THEIR ACTION PLANS TO BE SUBMITTED TO ME NOT LATER THAN JUNE
30, 1999.
I HAVE ALSO AGREED TO CREATE AN INTER-AGENCY
TASK FORCE ON COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT, AND I AM DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE, TOGETHER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, TO PREPARE
THE ACTION DOCUMENT NEEDED FOR ITS CREATION.
THE TASK FORCE SHALL IDENTIFY, THE
COMPOSITION; ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS; AND ITS NEEDED TECHNICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE
AND BUDGETARY SUPPORT.
THE WORK
OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL INCLUDE STUDYING THE PROPOSAL TO FORMULATE A NATIONAL
COASTAL AND MARINE POLICY FRAMEWORK THAT WILL INCORPORATE THE STRATEGIES
AND ACTION PROGRAM CONTAINED IN PHILIPPINE AGENDA 21.
THE TASK FORCE SHOULD ALSO ASSIST LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS IN THE
DELINEATION OF THE MUNICIPAL WATERS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS
OF REPUBLIC ACT 8550, OR THE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998.
AT PARA NAMAN MASABI NINYONG ANG MGA DIREKTIBANG ITO AY MABILIS NA TUTUGON
SA INYONG KAH1LINGAN, INAATASAN KO ANG MGA NABANGGIT NA DEPARTAMENTO NA MAG-SUBMIT SA AKIN NG KANILANG
REPORT BAGO MATAPOS ANG BUWAN
NG HUNYO SA TAONG KASALUKUYAN.
ABOVE ALL THESE, I CHALLENGE EVERY
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN COASTAL MANAGEMENT AS ONE OF ITS BASIC SERVICES.
TO SUSTAIN THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS YOU DERIVE FROM THE SEA, YOU MUST
INVEST IN TRAINING PERSONNEL, EQUIP ENFORCEMENT UNITS, AND IMPLEMENT COASTAL
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS.
INTER-LGU COOPERATION MAY BE PRIORITIZED
AS AN IMPORTANT MECHANISM TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. YOU MAY EVEN ENLIST THE SUPPORT OF ALL COASTAL
STAKEHOLDERS -- IN PARTICULAR, THE PRIVATE SECTOR -- IN YOUR EFFORTS TO
EFFECT THE RECOVERY OF OUR SEAS.
I SPECIFICALLY CHALLENGE YOU, THE COASTAL
MAYORS OF THE PHILIPPINES, TO LEAD IN THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPAL
WATERS. YOU REPRESENT THE LAST
SAFETY NET FOR THE SURVIVAL OF OUR SEAS. I, THEREFORE, URGE YOU TO APPLY
PRECAUTIONS IN THE MANY DAILY DECISIONS YOU MAKE ABOUT THE USE OF THIS
PRECIOUS RESOURCE.
HUWAG SANANG MATAPOS SA ARAW NA ITO ANG UNANG PAGDIRIWANG NG MAYO BILANG
MONTH OF THE OCEAN SA PILIPINAS. SA HALIP, GAWIN NATIN ITONG SIMULA LAMANG NG MULING PAGPAPASIGLA NG ATING KARAGATAN
SA ARAW-ARAW. KUNG TAYO AY
MAGKAKAISA AT MAGTUTULUNGAN, MAGAGAWA
NATIN ITO.
ITO ANG AKING HAMON SA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES AT AKO AY
NANINIWALA NA HINDI NINYO AKO
DIBIGUIN. MADALI KONG KULITIN
ANG PANGULO NG INYONG SAMAHAN TUNGKOL
DITO, KAYA TIYAKIN NINYONG LAGI SIYANG MAY MAGANDANG REPORT SA AKIN.
KUNG HINDI AY ALAM KONG HINDI NIYA KAYO TITIGILAN
DAHIL AYAW NIYANG MASIRA ANG KANIYANG
PANGALAN NA MATAGAL KO NA RING INAALAGAAN AT INI-INGATAN.
HANGGANG SA MULI NATING PAGKIKITA AT MARAMING SALAMAT PO.
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