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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (DENR-TSPS) orchestrates the passionate and engaging activity that encourages the coastal communities to become a part of the decision making process for the welfare of their coasts - the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM), in the municipality of San Remigio, Cebu today, October 12, 2023.
The ICM activity aims to enlighten the coastal communities of San Remegio, Cebu about the recent updates for the map of delineated zones, biophysical survey results, mainstream river profiles within TSPS, and the integration of ICM to its Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).
The Municipal Mayor of San Remigio, Atty. Alfonso C. Pestolante spearheaded the activity as he was hopeful that in this activity, the stakeholders will learn how to manage and value their coastal resources. “I would like to consider this as another opportunity for us to be able to learn things, new techniques in management on how we’re going to further protect our Tanon Strait.”
Following the welcoming speech of Mayor Pestolante, the Assistant Protected Area Superintendent (APSU) of Northwest Cebu, Marciano Grijaldo, provided the rationale and objective of this activity which is to provide technical assistance to the municipality and its stakeholders for their process of integrating the coastal management to their CLUP. The activity also aims to orient the technical working group about the new guidelines approved by the DENR as supported by the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD).
The activity then proceeded by the presentations of essential data to integrate coastal management to the municipality’s CLUP. Joselito Francis Alcaria, the Coastal Enforcement Officer of TSPS presented the status of the municipality’s coastal resources and thoroughly explained the results of the most recent biophysical assessment. Keith Tecson, the Municipal Zoning Engineer, then presented their CLUP. Dexter Bonjoc, the Data Management Officer/Geographic Information System Operator of TSPS presented the existing river profiles of the municipality. An open forum was then organized after the presentations where the concerns and queries of the stakeholders were thoroughly answered by the presenters.
As the activity nears its conclusion, it is vital to remember the Mayor Pestolante emphasized the protection, and conservation of the marine resources of their municipal waters. He iterates, “Kani siya is atoa ni siyang joint responsibility that’s why there is a need to integrate all these management responsibilities nato, specially kamong mga barangay captains, [and] barangay officials, atoa gyud ni siyang e consider as one of the important source of our livelihood and even life of our constituents. Kay naa man dinha ang pila ka libo na mananagat nga ga depende ra gyud sa atoang marine resources.”
“Dako kaayo akong pasalamat nga sa gihapon, sa atong municipal hall, nga miari mo ug sa ni present nga naa ta karon diri… kung unsaon nato pag re-enforce, kung unsaon nato pagpalambo ang atong coastal area. [Atong] ibutang sa huna-huna nga ang atong coastal area ug wala mo, wala tanan. Ang pinaka importante kamo nga naa taga diha kay kamoy nasayod sa inyong problema, kamo mo’y nasayod unsay mga proyekto na atong ibutang diha para sa kalamboan sa atong environment ug sa atong dagat diri sa San Remigio. Ang atong opisina andam ma daganan ug unsay inyong mga problema. In behalf sa Northwest TSPS, nagpasalamat [kami] ug maayong buntag sa tanan.” - the words of APASu Marciano Grijaldo as he formally wrapped up the Integrated Coastal Management effort in San Remigio.
