By Gabriel Bernales
While the Tucad Reef in Pilar town has been declared as a protected marine sanctuary, a management board is needed to implement a long-term protection plan.
The Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CaPENRO) reiterated the importance the creation of a management board and management plan following the recent declaration by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
“For so long a time, there’s no management board and there’s no management plan,” said Wilmon “Moon” Alinsangan, CaPENRO development management officer.
Alinsangan told The Capiz Times that the local government unit (LGU) of Pilar has already declared Tucad Reef as a “fish sanctuary” as early as 1997, but no concrete protection program has been implemented.
Concerns also arose due to high incidence of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing between 2020 and 2021.
This prompted CaPENRO—in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Capiz and non-governmental organization SIKAT Inc.—to begin formal assessments to obtain baseline data.
The assessment includes finding out how wide is the Tucad Reef and its biodiversity.
“The goal is to create a management board and plan so we know what to protect. This is anchored on the idea that we cannot protect something that we don’t know in the first place,” added Alinsangan.
The technical assessment is also crucial to decide whether the Tucad Reef will be managed locally or through the national government.
The DENR is separately eyeing for the inclusion of the Tucad Reef into the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). But this would only happen if it passes the Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA).
CaPENRO Chief Ronald Allan Cullo shared that assessment of Tucad Reef continues despite limitations in technical equipment, budget, and expert manpower.
Cullo said the assessment of Tucad Reef is a CaPENRO priority in support of the environmental agenda of the administration of Governor Fredenil “Oto” Castro.
Though the assessment will take time, hopes remain high for Tucad Reef’s conservation and restoration. It may not only yield scientific breakthroughs—but also a renewed sense of wonder, empathy, and responsibility for protecting the environment.
Caption
Rich corals at Tucad Reef in the town of Pilar. (Photo from CaPENRO)
