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LGUs
blamed on Balicasag, dolphin protection lapses
The
shortfall of coordination from the local government units was primarily blamed
for the absence of concrete programs to protect the marine resources in the seawaters
off Balicasag and Pamilacan, covering the towns of Panglao, Dauis and Baclayon.
The
Provincial Tourism Council learned of this concern during its executive committee
meeting convened amid reports of destructions in the marine resources in Balicasag
Island, which was recently tagged by a Japanese tour survey group as one of the
top 3 dive spots in the world.
The
council was alarmed on the observations shared by Nueva Eciaj Rep. Romulo Antonino,
a professional diver himself, who escorted Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during
her recent dive at Balicasag.
PTC
Chairman Peter Dejaresco said while there is the Padayon Bohol Marine Triangle
Management Council, Inc. looking into the protection of the seawaters bordered
by the three municipalities, there is no coordination of programs by the respective
LGUs.
PADAYON,
which stands for Panglao, Dauis and Baclayon has a total of 55 kms, nestled by
252.53 hectares of mangrove, 2,555 hectares of sea grass and 554 hectares of coral
reefs.
The
NGO, which was formerly funded by UNDP, has failed to reach its objective of developing
an inter-municipality collaboration in the protection of the area in terms of
marine resources as shown in the absence of coordinated efforts among the three
towns.
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The three towns
extend financial support to PADAYON, but no longer for Panglao which has stopped
its fund aid to the group.
The
marine protection program in Dauis has also been hampered with the recent conflict
between Mayor Lulu Bongalos and the Sangguniang Bayan which reportedly "locked"
the budget support to the marine conservation program.
Meanwhile,
Baclayon was the subject of request by the Pamilacan barangay council to activate
the fielding of patrol boats in order to protect the dolphins in the area. |
Rep. Edgar
Chatto, House tourism committee chair, who attended the meeting, rallied behind
the call for the towns to coordinate through programs that protect the marine
resources in Balicasag and the dolphins in Baclayon town.
The
solon sounded off the alarm on the need to conduct marine resources preservation
which was also the concern aired by Rep. Antonino.
Ellen
Gallares, executive director of Padayon told the PTC execom that their group is
a recommendatory body to the three towns anchored on the mission of conserving
the diverse and unique ecosystem of the BMT and to enhance its social, economic
and ecological value for the sustainable benefit of its stakeholders.
Baclayon
Vice Mayor Bobsie Uy reported that since after she was informed last Monday to
be the acting chair of the Coastal Law Enforcement Council (District I), she immediately
got the approval of Mayor Alvin Uy to have the CLEC patrol boat monitor the area
by conducting night patrols.
REACTIVE
Two
seaborne teams in Baclayon and Cortes made two apprehensions after initiating
operations last Monday
Bohol
Environment Management Office (BEMO) chief Rene Villaber said he was summoned
by Gov. Aumentado to investigate the disappearance of dolphins for three days
off Pamilcan Island and the marine destruction in Balicasag, both reported in
this paper during the past two weeks.
Apprehended
early morning last Thursday at the seawaters off Panglao were crewmen of fishing
boat Sr. Sto. Niño 2, which included Berline Lumuhang, boat captain; Pelayo
Tolelis, Ryan Casero, Teofilo Mahilom and the rest of the crew.
Meanwhile,
another seaborne patrol team conducting operations at the seawaters off Baclayon
caught red handed a group of fishermen using light boats. Apprehended were Doroy
Cale, of Montaña, Baclayon; Mike Cirunay and Jose Fulguerinas, both of
barangay Catarman, Dauis town.
The
fishermen were operating without permits. In
Baclayon, the LGU is supporting the fuel requirements patrol boat.
Villaber
said that there are 3 patrol boats for the first district, one based in Pamilacan. | 
