Mabaw Reef guard house, patrol boat launched

TAGBILARAN CITY,  — Officials of the city and its barangays and Rare Conservation, a non-government organization, marked another milestone in the Mabaw Reef Pride Campaign with the blessing and inauguration of a guard house and a patrol boat at Kijaw in Brgy. Ubujan of this city last June 28.

The guard house was constructed by the city government in October 2011 to support the Mabaw Reef Pride campaign, while Rare Conservation funded the expansion phase of the project and the patrol boat under the small grants project.

The guard house now serves as a station for coastal law enforcers who would regularly monitor and conduct surveillance activities within the marine sanctuary, as well as a resting area for snorkelers and recreational divers who have been granted prior permission by the LGU for their activities.

The pump boat will be used by the Mabaw Reef coastal law enforcement team in their regular seaborne patrol operations and monitoring activities. The twin project would oversee the fishing activities within the city sea waters and the entire Maribojoc Bay area.

City Vice Mayor Nuevas Tirol-Montes, represented Mayor Dan Neri Lim in the event, which was also attended by Councilors Nerio Zamora II, Doni Piquero, and Genesyl Balbin, city administrator Ed Macalandag, Barangay Chairman Timoteo Maglahus of Ubujan, fishermen, and Jovenal Edquilag, Rare Conservation fellow.

The Mabaw Reef Management Committee managed the entire program. —contributed by Belinda Sales-Canlas