Marine protected area launched in Poro Point

SAN FERNANDO, La Union, Philippines – A multi-sectoral partnership of the city government, the Institute of Social Order and Chevron Philippines launched a 173-hectare marine protected area in Poro Point here on Monday.

“This would serve well for coastal villagers who have lack of awareness to manage aquatic resources,” Mayor Pablo Ortega said during the launch.

San Fernando City is maintaining marine protected areas in several coastal areas such as Barangays Lingsat and Canaoay, known havens for sea urchins, sea cucumbers, “siganid” fish varieties like “barangan,” “padas” and “malaga,” and seaweeds like “aragan,” which is made into gelatin; and seaweed food products like “lato,” “pupulo” “kulot-kulot”and “barusbos.”

The three partners also signed a five-year memorandum of agreement last December to preserve the diverse eco-systems of 10 other coastal barangays.

The agreement covers the villages of Pagdaraoan, Carlatan, Dalumpinas Oeste, Pagdalagan Norte, Pagudpud, San Vicente, San Agustin, San Francisco, Ilocanos Norte, and Ilocanos Sur.

The newly launched project focuses on “facilitating public-private partnership through co-management of a marine protected area,” according to city environment and resources officer Valmar Valdez.

The project has a multi-sectoral fund of P11 million.

Chevron, through Caltex Foundation, will contribute P7.2 million for the five-year project while in-kind leverage will come from ISO and the city government will contribute P2.5 million for the staff’s operational materials and other services.

“We envision that our city waters will become a premier tourist marine park through these projects,” Ortega said.

Cherry Ramos, Chevron coordinator for policy and public affairs, said a project on propagating forest and idle lands was conducted during the term of former mayor Mary Jane Ortega until it was decided to intensify this into a marine conservation project.

Chevron maintains an oil depot in Poro Point.