Key officials of the four provinces of regions seven and eight have manifested their commitment to develop, protect, conserve and manage the 272-kilometer vast Danajon Double Barrier Reefs, the only documented double barrier reefs in Indo-Pacific region that is very rich in biodiversity and marine eco-systems.

Governor Erico B. Aumentado of Bohol and Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla and 17 municipalities of Cebu, Leyte, Bohol and Southern Leyte in what is called the CELEBOSOLE Growth Quadrangle and government agencies concerned, including the Office of the President Central Visayas represented by Felix Guanzon, affixed their signatures to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) so save, protect of what is left of the reefs. Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu and Gov. Damian Mercado were not present during the signing but they were represented to the gathering.

Aumentado in his presentation speech described the signing during the CELEBOSOLE Growth Quadrangle convention/caucus hosted by Bohol province held at Bohol Tropics Resort in this city as "historic moment" in the campaign against poverty and promotion of ecological tourism and conservation of the environment.

It is a fact that Danajon Double Barrier reefs is the home the sea horse sanctuary that is recently awarded and the Banacon Mangrove flats, said to be the largest man-made mangrove forest in Southeast Asia. Both are awardees because of their significance in the environmental protection and conservation efforts.

Vice-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera pointed out three-pronged objectives and approaches in his statement of purpose speech. He said that the convention was aimed at formalizing the updates and MOA signing on rehabilitation, conservation and management of the area.

He also said that adopting Danajon and Eco-Firm project and up-scaling best practices in the area and to conduct the caucus output and Eco-Firm implementation to help maintain the health and productivity of coastal eco-systems in the area. In his final statement, Herrera said, "We must safeguard our natural resources with utmost care and attention for environmental sustainability is the key to greater development."

Aumentado said that the move was just a continuity after 2002 when he and other governors Pablo Garcia of Cebu, Leyte's remedies Petilla and Southern Leyte's Rosette Yniguez formed the CELEBOSOLE. Only that the group of four governors failed to secure a presidential fiat for the support of the project.

In his speech, Petilla pledged, "We can assure you that Leyte will be there and Leyte will cooperate."

Petilla emphasized the need to save Danajon and to set aside the perennial border dispute between Bohol and Leyte and work beyond that. "There are things that actually depend on you but it affects other people. There are somethings we can not create that God created but the best we can do is just maintain it. And this is one of these things that we cannot create. If we destroy that we cannot put it back together let's make sure it is preserved because a lot of people depend on their livelihood on this particular reefs."

Prior to signing of the MOA, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay presented to the council the contents and provisions particularly on the respective functions and responsibilities of each local government units involved in the project.

PROCESS Foundation executive director Emmy Roslinda also presented the project and how to go about it as well as the situation of the Danajon Bank.

Those involved in MOA, aside from the provincial governors, also include Mayor Eutiquio Bernales of Ubay and Mayor Piezas of Tubigon; and representatives of the towns of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Getafe, Buenavista, Talibon, Inabanga, Clarin, Bien-Unido and Trinidad; municipality of Cordova of Cebu and Lapu-lapu City; municipalities of Inopacan, Hilongos, and Hindang, all of Leyte; municipalities of Matalom, Bato and Baybay, and the city of Maasin, all of Southern Leyte.

Also included in the MOA are the following agencies: Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources of regions 7 and 8; regional PNP and Marine Police offices; regional offices of Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, the Office of the President of Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas and other non-government organizations such the Process Foundation. (RVO)