Bayabas town champs on nat'l coastal competition
BAYABAS, Surigao del Sur – A dream of yesterday and now turned a reality for the local government unit of Bayabas, the smallest town in the province of Surigao del Sur, as it was hailed as the National Grand Champion for the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) 2022, the Search for the Outstanding Coastal Community, a program of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
As the 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 stood out from
the rest of the contenders and paved the way for the ultimate victory.
The town of Bayabas, existing among the 17 municipalities, and two cities in
the province, faced with many challenges on 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 were fishing. At that time,
there was no fish sanctuary established in the area.
"Consistent reports on dynamite explosion were observed on broad day light
,and several fishermen were practicing illegal fishing activities were
captured, recalled Vice Mayor Ma. Clarita Limbaro. Accordingly, the presence of
these environmental violations were due to lack of policies and strict
regulation. Until such time, the municipality overcame and out solution to the problems through crafting of effective policies, and the observance of
regulations to answer the issues and concerns of the environment particularly
on illegal fishing and destruction of marine sanctuary.
"On May 12, 2010, Ordinance No. 4 was born, which kicked off the implementation of regulation on the establishment of the fish sanctuary in the
municipality," as shared by Municipal Agriculturist Geralyn Guibao.
Among the practices of the LGU, they are linked with non-government
organizations (NGOs), government agencies, and alliances with different
neighboring municipalities with the same goal and objective on the protection
of coastal resources and community.
“We are lucky enough to be part of the SUMACOR or sustainable management on
coastal resources through the International Fund for Agricultural Development,
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, (IFAD-BFAR),” Limbaro said.
Since then, Bayabas town started to put sanction on the base form of crafted
policies, and laws on how to combat 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 Caraga regional winner and proudly received the
reward prize of P2 million.
According to BFAR, rewards for these Search for the country’s outstanding coastal
community will come in the forms of aquatic livelihood projects. (Nida Grace P.
Barcena, PIA-Surigao del Sur)
