Representatives from coastal local government units of Capiz with the members of the Capiz Eco-Youth Volunteers joined the orientation and workshop on Marine Protected Area (MPA) establishment recently at Villa Consorcia Resort, Pontevedra, Capiz.
The orientation and workshop, facilitated by SIKAT Inc. field manager Dian Animo, aimed to capacitate the LGU and youth on the importance of MPA and the necessary steps and processes to assure a successful establishment.
MPA is an area of the sea established and set aside by law, administrative regulation, or any other effective means, to conserve and protect a part of or the entire enclosed environment, through the establishment of management guidelines. It is considered a generic term that includes all declared areas governed by specific rules or guidelines to protect and manage activities within the enclosed area.
CaPENRO head Emilyn Arboleda-Depon urged the municipal LGUs to influence their local leaders for a higher funding allocation for better coastal resource management.
She also emphasized that impactful initiative like MPA needs strong support from leaders, thus, the environmental office, local leaders, and stakeholders must see eye to eye.
Now that Capiz’s coastal resources are under threat due to solid waste mismanagement, mangrove cutting, illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, and climate change, the establishment of MPA is an urgent matter, she said.*
