Marine protection training held

CEBU, Philippines - At least 40 Bantayan Island residents had attended a two-day marine protection training recently conducted by students of De La Salle University-Manila.

The event, held at the School of the Seas Camp, April Beach in Sta. Fe, was designed to educate those living in Marine Protected Area (MPA) on Bantayan Island.

Participants - who were from barangays Baod, Patao, Kabac, Tamiao, Atop-atop, and Sillion - were able to form their MPA management team for community development.

Vivien Batayola of Barangay Sillion started their action planning by inviting Ron Sa-ba, a Solid Waste Management advocate, to help them make their own development plan.

The program aimed to teach the residents of the importance in the management of marine protected areas.

Guest speakers were Vivienne Zerrudo, director of Batas Kalikasan Foundation; Ceasar Morandarte, of Batas Kalikasan Foundation-School of Seas; Ron Sa-ba, Solid Waste Management advocate and barangay administrator from Barangay Luz, Cebu City; and Veron, a demonstrator for alternative livelihood.

Sea cucumber cultivation, solid waste management and turning trash into crafts were some of the topics discussed during the program.

The team believed that there is still a need to strengthen the management skills of communities that are in charge of protecting their own MPAs.

     There are 13 successful MPAs in the Visayas.   (FREEMAN NEWS)