A cheque worth P500,000 was given to the Camotes Coastal Resource Management Cluster, which was created through the province’s Coastal Resource Management Program, intended to be utilized in the protection of marine and coastal resources.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia personally handed over the cheque as operational fund after the submitted program of work of the said cluster was approved by the Provincial Environment and National Resources Office and by the governor herself.
The cheque was given last May 25 during the “Suroy-Suroy Enchanting Camotes” tour.
The clustering of local government units based on their aquatic ecosystems is an offshoot of the Cebu Provincial Marine Protection and Conservation Council which was created through Executive Order 2005-07, series of 2005.
The Camotes cluster comprised of the municipalities of Poro, San Francisco, Pilar and Tudela and the city of Danao which all share the Camotes Sea was created after a Memorandum of Agreement was signed last January 16, 2006.
Since the money shall be divided among the cluster members, Mayor Rogelio Baquerfo of Tudela plans to buy a patrol boat from the P100,000 that their municipality will be getting.
Baquerfo said that their “town will just provide the additional money needed since the share would probably be lacking.”
Clustering provides for officials to agree on ordinances for marine protection as well as closer coordination of personnel enforcing marine protection laws.
Whenever an illegal fisher, for example, crosses municipal boundaries, clustering allows for his speedy apprehension because there is already a clear procedure and an agreement on crossing sea divides between municipalities.
“Nunot pa ni (clustering) sa iyang (Gwen) 12-point agenda sa environment sector nga about conservation and protection of our beautiful coastlines,” Nerces Bispo, planning officer III of PENRO, said.
“Kay matod pa ni Gov. Gwen, concern for the environment has no boundaries,” Rameses Jamon, PENRO project officer I, added.
Other clusters are those of the Southeast, Southwest, Bantayan Island, Far Northeast, Midwest, and Mideast. The Far North and Cebu 1st District clusters are still being proposed. — Garry B. Lao/MEEV