MikeLigalig.com

Loon is first pilot site of Buhay Dagat
By Adam L. Saligumba

      The Municipality of Loon’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) in barangay Cabacungan, Cabilao Island figured prominently the other week when it was chosen as the first pilot site of the Buhay Dagat, a joint project of the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), Marine Protected Areas Support Network (MSN), and Bluewater Consultancy.

      More than 35 participants, mostly members of the Nagkahiusang mga Mananagat sa Cabacungan (Nagmaca) took part in a 6-day Reef Ranger Training of the Buhay Dagat conducted on November 19–25, 2008 in different venues in Loon.

    The Buhay Dagat is a Community-Based Tourism project in a Marine-Protected Area, the name derived from the words buhay na dagat (living sea) and hanap-buhay mula sa dagat (livelihood from the sea). The objective of the project is to add a livelihood component in the Coastal Resource Management (CRM) process through a community-based enterprise, thus, contributing to poverty alleviation in the coastal area.

      The project aims to provide a viable livelihood opportunity for people directly involved in the monitoring and management of MPAs and provide an excellent motivation for their continued involvement in their protection.

      The project also aims to make Marine Protected Areas learning venues for tourists who need to be educated about the coastal environment and the concept of responsible tourism.

      The specific objectives of the Buhay Dagat are: promote environmental awareness through a highly educational and experiential activity; protect enhanced and well-managed sanctuaries from negative impacts of tourism; provide livelihood for stakeholders engaged in MPA management; and develop unique tourism products that communities can operate and to establish linkages with potential markets.

      Only 10 marine-protected areas from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are selected for the project based on the following site-selection criteria: 1. There is an established MPA with effective management being implemented; 2. Willingness of the community to engage in coastal tourism and the presence of stakeholders that can be involved; 3. Receptiveness and support of the LGU through counterpart funding; 4. The site is safe and secure from political unrest/insurgency, criminality and environmental disasters; 5. The site has great potentials for coastal tourism (accommodations within 30 minutes traveling time, accessible by land and boat, has available infrastructure,  has other nearby attractions); 6. Current bio-physical status (well-preserved eco-system, high biodiversity); 7. Readiness for tourism; 8. Suitable for snorkeling at least six months in a year; No threats from logging, mining, pollution and uncontrolled development; and 10. No hazards (rip currents, boat traffic, surf, and hazardous marine life).

    The fish sanctuary in Cabacungan, Cabilao, a marine-protected area (MPA), easily passed all the criteria and was selected as the first pilot site of the Buhay Dagat. The seawaters in Cabacungan is internationally known as having one of the best dive sites in Asia.

      The reef ranger training was conducted by a technical team from the Manila-based Bluewater Consultancy. The team was composed of training director PCSSD Commissioner Louie F. Mencias, Chen Mencias, Alex Amable and David Tajan. Ms. Chona Kapawan, PCSSD Executive Assistant represented Undersecretary and PCSSD Executive Director Cynthia Carrion.

      The training culminated on November 25, 2008 at the Baluarte Beach Resort in barangay Pantudlan, Cabilao where participants received their certificates of completion and took their oath-of-office as Reef Rangers of the municipality of Loon.

      Loon Mayor Lloyd Peter M. Lopez, MD, in his message, lauded the PCSSD and the DOT for the Buhay Dagat project which gives recognizance and importance to marine protected areas and their stakeholders. He also congratulated the new reef rangers and exhorted them to be always vigilant in the protection and preservation of the reefs and marine sanctuaries in the municipality. He assured them of the LGU’s continued support such as the provision of diving paraphernalia like snorkels and other gear.  - Sunday Post

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=16656.0

a reef ranger training is indicative of an initiative to protect a certain part of the sea which is where the livelihood of the majority who inhabit our coastal areas is derived from. while this initiative talks about providing livelihood activities for the people, it is unclear what these livelihood projects are. there have been a lot of coastal management initiatives that have been done in the past but marine degradation continues to this day. in my observation, there are only two major things to do in marine conservation: (1) strict implementation of marine laws; (2) provision of ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF LIVELIHOOD, preferably those that steer people clear from the sea.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=16656.0