by Thiago Santos September 27, 2021 BATANGAS CTIY - The Batangas Provincial Government recently welcomed the Philippines Sustainable Interv...
September 27, 2021
BATANGAS CTIY - The Batangas Provincial Government recently welcomed the Philippines Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscape through the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) (SIBOL).
Representatives from Batangas coastal local governments, government agencies, marine protected area (MPA) managers, fishermen, organizations, and citizens attended the training to gain adequate knowledge for various resources. alternative livelihood from proper management and protection of MPAs and the entire ocean, similar to what is currently available in the municipalities of Mabini and Tingloy
SIBOL is a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project that was launched to support the sustainable management of the Philippines' natural resources and combat environmental crimes.
The presentation emphasized how Tingloy and Mabini's conservation fee scheme was formed, which in turn allocates the said LGUs to programs and activities related to MPA management, such as marker and buoy installation and maintenance, financial support to the Coast Guard, procurement and maintenance of patrol boats, meetings and training, underwater and coastal cleanup, and IEC campaigns.
Because of the need to protect the environment, which is visited by tourists and benefited by fishermen, actions have been taken in the two towns to promote proper conservation management. The environmental organizations Haribon Foundation and World Wildlife Philippines aided in this effort.
After numerous meetings, consultations, data gathering and public hearings, the local governments of Mabini and Tingloy passed the Unified Municipal Ordinance, which allowed to charge conservation fees from divers.
In 2003, a daily dive pass cost $100, and an annual dive pass cost $1,800. From 2015 to the present, they have been 200 and 3,400. The funds amassed by Mabini and Tingloy are divided.
The infrastructure and equipment have been better organized thanks to conservation fees, which has strengthened the tourist industry here. As economic activity expanded, fishermen became dive boat operators and boatmen, men worked as dive guides and waiters, and women cleaned and cooked at resorts. More importantly, fishing-related threats and other destructive activities have been reduced.
This method is already being used in other coastal towns in the province, including Calatagan, Bauan, San Luis, Lian, Lobo, San Juan, and Batangas City, and other towns are planning to collect conservation fees as well.
According to PGENRO, the tasks have not been easy, so the towns of Mabini and Tingloy, along with all citizens and fishermen, remain enthusiastic and cooperative in order to achieve the continuous success and benefits they have achieved to date, despite the pandemic. (reports from PGENRO - Batangas Capitol PIO)
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