DENR signs pact to save Visayas Sea

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has signed a P100-million agreement with the provincial governments of Cebu, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Masbate to rehabilitate the Visayas Sea.

The German-funded agreement envisions the establishment of an Integrated Visayan Sea Coastal Resources and Fisheries Management Program (VisSea), according to DENR Secretary Heherson Alvarez.

"The marine resources of our seas are vital to human life, providing a large source of protein for our communities which in turn play an important role in human physical and mental development," said Alvarez, "but much of this resource is being depleted and exploited. So when we protect this fragile ecosystem, we protect the very fabric of life on Earth."

Signing the memorandum of agreement were Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia, Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Maranon and Masbate Gov. Antonio Kho, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Atty. Malcolm Sarmiento Jr., Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research Development (PCAMRD) Deputy Executive Director Dr. Rafael Guerrero III, University of the Philippines in the Visayas Chancellor Dr. Ida Siason, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Dante Canlas, BFAR Region 5 Dir. Josie Delfin, BFAR Region 6 Dir. Sonias Seville and BFAR Region 7 Dir. Corazon Corrales.

Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), a government agency of the Republic of Germany, will be providing technical assistance amounting to P100 million.

Also, BFAR has committed a P2.5-million fund while PCAMRD has agreed to allocate P1 million to the program.

The Visayas Sea has been identified as one of the biggest and most productive fishing grounds in the country. It is the top source of commercially produced fish nationwide with 13.5 percent and the third largest source of municipal fish with 11.5 percent. — Romel Bagares