The local government unit of Bayabas in the province of Surigao del Sur was hailed as the Grand Champion for the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) 2022 of the Nationwide Search for Outstanding Coastal Community.
MMK 2022 is an annual accolade of the Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), that gives recognition and incentive to the outstanding coastal communities of the country for their efforts and contribution to sustainable resources and fisheries management anchored on the five criteria, to wit: (1) No illegal fishing; (2) Observance of off-fishing season; (3) Declaration of marine protected areas; (4) clean, coastal waters without any garbage or industrial effluent flowing to the sea; and (5) effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program.
As an impressive winner, LGU Bayabas received a check worth P30 million and a plaque during the 60th Fish Conservation Week Culmination Program held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City, on September 22, 2023.
The LGU’s initiatives on the implementation of solid waste management, comprehensive law enforcement on closed fishing seasons, and best practices among the fisherfolk and residents along coastal areas made them stand out from the rest of the contenders and paved the way for the ultimate victory. Bayabas is a 5th-class municipality, composed of seven (7) barangays with 2,133 households based on the 2020 census.
The town of Bayabas, among the 19 local government units in the province, faced many challenges from illegal and unregulated fishing activities in the area. From 1990 to 2010, illegal fishing activities were observed, probably because most of the residents live and earn money from the aquatic resources that are abundant in the area. At that time, there was no fish sanctuary established in the area.
“Consistent reports on dynamite explosions were observed in broad daylight, and several fishermen who were practicing illegal fishing activities were captured, recalled Vice Mayor Ma. Clarita Limbaro. Accordingly, the presence of these environmental violations were due to a lack of policies and strict regulations. Until such time, the municipality came up with solutions to the problems through the crafting of effective policies and the observance of regulations to address the issues and concerns of the environment, particularly illegal fishing and destruction of marine sanctuaries.
“On May 12, 2010, Ordinance No. 4 was born, which kicked off with the implementation of the regulation on the establishment of the fish sanctuary in the municipality,” as shared by Municipal Agriculturist Geralyn Guibao.
The LGU worked well with non-government organizations (NGOs), government agencies, and alliances from different neighboring municipalities, all with the same goal and objective of protecting coastal resources and communities.
Such that Limbaro gratefully added, “We are lucky enough to be part of the SUMACOR or Sustainable Management on Coastal Resources, under the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (IFAD-BFAR).”
Since then, Bayabas town has started to put sanctions on the base form of the crafted policies and laws against illegal fishing, and the creation of people’s organizations were, among the steps the local officials initiated and strategized. An awareness campaign was also conducted along the coastal communities that empowered the different sectors like women, youth, farmers, and fisherfolk.
Meanwhile, LGU-Bayabas was the regional winner in Caraga, and it proudly received the reward prize of P2 million. Accordingly, the reward at the regional and national levels will come in the form of aquatic livelihood projects.
The proposed initiatives and plans were outlined by the Municipal Agriculture Office to ensure the efficient utilization of the hard-earned reward. This includes livelihood projects amounting to P1.3 million per barangay for the seven town barangays, enhancement and restoration of multi-purpose/livelihood and coastal resource management building, enhancement of capabilities for people’s organization/civil society organizations (POs/CSOs) and other stakeholders, establishment of a fish landing facility, acquisition of Bantay Dagat equipment, upgrading of the watchtower with a beacon, restoration and enhancement of the dry dock for the speed boat, livelihood options related to solid waste management, educational campaigns for coastal resource management (CRM), and enhancement of mangrove nurseries in barangays La Paz and Balete. (NGPB/ PIA-Surigao del Sur)
