VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA)—Protecting a maritime region well within the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone is not limited to the national government, says Governor Jerry Singson following the unveiling of a provincial government comprehensive action plan to protect the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Collaborating with local governments, national agencies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations, Singson presented an action plan embarking on three clusters: governance, economic and infrastructure development, and sustainability.
Part of the action plan also includes the creation of the WPS Council.
“With the creation of the WPS Council here at the heritage province of Ilocos Sur, we reiterate our stronger acceptance of our obligation over the WPS. Together with us now in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, headed by our presiding officer, Vice-Governor Ryan Luis Singson, we commit that, in principle, the ordinance creating the WPS Council in Ilocos Sur is deemed approved,” Singson said during the provincial caravan for the West Philippine Sea held last week.
“This is a part of our action plan to strengthen our shared responsibility. This is the provincial government of Ilocos Sur, including its 34 local governments—ready, able, and willing to operationalize our action plan,” Singson added.
Under the governance cluster, the provincial government intends to intensify monitoring, control, and surveillance by strengthening information education and communication on Bantay Dagat; procure speedboats and other operational equipment; conduct quarterly coastal cleanups; strengthen and utilize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reserve forces by improving the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); provide funds and support for operations; and develop strong coordination and cooperation among local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders, including the AFP reserve forces, Philippine National Police, maritime groups, and the PCG.
Under the economic and infrastructure development cluster, the governor hinted at constructing seawalls and continuing the river control projects in strategic locations, simultaneous with “aquaculture production like seaweeds, [and] regulatory measures for coastal development to protect coral reefs and marine habitat, and provision of alternative opportunities like processing of cacao and coffee [must be continued]. [Moreover], the development of ecotourism [in Ilocos Sur], the improvement of access roads for economic tourism projects, and the regulatory measures for coastal development to protect our coral reefs and marine habitat [must be implemented].”
The action plan’s sustainability sector will prioritize the sustained development of more mangrove plantations, rehabilitating forestry species like coffee, cacao, and pine trees, delineating municipal waters, and strengthening first responders.
The action plan, however, would have to wait for the availability of funds, says the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which has direct supervision over the 82 provinces, 143 cities, 1,498 municipalities, and over 42,000 barangay units in the country.
The caravan, dubbed “Bayanihang Adhikain, Bayaning Aksyon Para sa Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas,” was held at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center in this city to disseminate and integrate action plans with the existing local government development strategies.
According to DILG Assistant Secretary for International Relations Lilian de Leon, this is the third provincial caravan held in the country—the first in Palawan on May 2 and the second in Ilocos Norte on August 19.
“Labing-walong bayan at siyudad lamang ang nakaharap sa WPS, pero importante na lahat ng bayan at siyudad [sa Ilocos Sur] ay kasama rito para mag-complement tayo at makita at makatulong kung papaano natin matutugunan itong ating suliranin at kung papaano mapapalakas ang antas ng pamahalaan para sa proteksyon ng WPS,” said de Leon in reference to the caravan organized by the Tanggol Kalikasan, Inc., the DILG, the University of Northern Philippines Institute of Environmental Governance, and the provincial government.
The event was capped with the signing of the commitment wall and launching of the Bayanihang Adhikain Para sa Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas (Gawad Bayaning Aksiyon), embarking on a comprehensive search for excellent and hardworking local government units in the province for the implementation of activities under the action plan of Ilocos Sur for the WPS. (AMB/JMCQ/PIA Ilocos Sur)
