The Online Magazine for Sustainable Seas
March, 1999 Vol. 2 No. 3

Local Action
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Davao del Sur

The focus of CRMP’s efforts in Davao del Sur are six municipalities -- Padada, Hagonoy, Sulop, Malalag, Sta. Maria and Digos -- covering an area of 85,948 hectares with a population of 56,514 persons and a coastline stretching to 66 km. Five expansion sites have been identified -- Sta. Cruz, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani Island -- covering an area of 190,499 hectares and a coastline of 191 kms. Majority of the residents in these coastal areas are engaged in fishing and derive their income mainly from fishing the nearby 65-sq km Malalag Bay. Intense exploitation of marine resources has caused the degradation of the coastal environment. Malalag Bay’s live corals once covered 1,020 hectares -- this area has been reduced to a mere 113.4 hectares, primarily because of the prevalence of illegal fishing practices but also partly because of chemical wastes from agriculture and fishponds. To reverse the trend, the government has imposed, since 1992, a gradual banning of compressors. A 50-hectare fish sanctuary has been established in the area, and public awareness of coastal issues is growing. 

Draft Malalag Bay Profile completed
A draft Malalag Bay Area profile has been completed and submitted for editing. CRMP staff are now reviewing PCRA results and consulting on boundaries with the provincial and municipal planning and development councils before finalizing the resource maps.

A series of consultations was also held with the provincial planning and development office, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to thresh out details of a provincial memorandum of agreement and executive order that will create a Provincial Coastal Resource Management Council (PCRMC) for Davao del Sur.

Meanwhile, discussions on the creation of the Malalag Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council, continue in various forums. §

  

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