LGUs with best resource management practices cited

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — To strengthen the implementation of its integrated coastal resources management project (ICRMP), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7, in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7 has cited the best practices of local government units (LGUs) in Cebu and Siquijor.

The announcement of said best practices was made at this city’s Sarrosa International Hotel and Residential Suites where the DENR 7 hosted the first ICRMP regional summit. The summit kicked off last Tuesday and will end Thursday.

Central Visayas, with 26 towns is one of the ICRMP’s beneficiaries. The region is the project’s biggest coverage, due to its side coastline. Of its 26 towns, 20 are situated in Cebu province while the remainder are in Siquijor.

Cebu province’s coastline area totals 1,081.984 kilometers while that Siquijor province comes to some 100.88 kilometers.

The ICRMP has four project components including policy and institutional strengthening and development; ICRMP and biodiversity conservation; enterprise development and income diversification; and social and environment services and facilities. It is a nation-wide project funded by the Asian Development Bank with the DENR as lead agency and supported by other such national agencies as the BFAR, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in partnership with LGUs.

The LGUs in Cebu named as those employing best practices particularly where the management of their natural resources are concerned include Lapu Lapu City and the towns of Dalaguete, Alcoy, Moalboal, Argao, Aloguinsan, Cordova, Barili, Alcantara and Alegria.

Similarly cited were the towns of Maria, Siquijor and San Juan in Siquijor.

Above said LGUs were successful in implementing substantial components of the ICRMP as the enforcement of solid waste management and coastal laws, forest conservation programs, community-based forest management and protection, and mangrove reforestation among others.

At the opening of the aforesaid three-day ICRMP summit here, DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Leonardo R. Sibbaluca said the event is expected to increase the awareness level of the various stakeholders on the project’s progress as well as showcase the various LGUs’ best ICRM practices.

“We hope that the reports on different areas, particularly those having said best practices would serve as encouragement to other municipalities to reciprocate or duplicate such practices” Sibbaluca said. –PHOEBE JEN INDINO, Manila Bulletin