June 5 (PIA) — The municipality of Sogod and Bogo City in Cebu province inked a memorandum of partnership with Alegre Beach Resort and Spa through its Aqua Sports department to assist the said local government units in the protection and management of their respective coastal and marine resources.
Aqua Sports head Gerrie Sola, who is also a marine biologist said the issues on climate change and other related matters are not simply issues but a crisis that needs to be dealt with as one nation.
This partnership heeds President Aquino’s call for a strong public-private partnership (PPP) in harnessing renewable energy sources as well as realizing potentials of local communities as sustainable investment haven.
The partnership calls for the setting up Marine Protected Areas such as fish sanctuaries in Sogod and at Bogo’s Capitancillo Island.
According to Sola, this is in line with the resort’s community social responsibility (CSR) programs to share its expertise and services to work with the local government units of Sogod and Bogo in the preservation and management of marine sanctuaries in the areas.
Sola added that the services they can extend to these LGUs include technical assistance, training and orientation and monitoring coastal management programs.
“To ensure that correct measures are being practiced and applied for a cost effective implementation of each local government’s projects on marine and coastal management and conservation,” Sola said.
Sogod mayor, Lisa “Moonyeen” Durano said, this is indeed a good start for Sogod town because the place is blessed with sprawling white sands and beautiful beaches considered as one of the country’s top destinations.
“We have to protect our coastal and marine resources vis-à-vis tourism potentials, specifically the management of resorts and spas in our town. We need the partnership of the private sector to realize the tourism potential of Sogo,” mayor Durano added.
On June 2, 2011 Alegre Beach Resort & Spa through its Aquasports Department and the Municipality of Sogod installed marker bouys in the Municipality’s marine sanctuary ensuring the protection of the thriving marine life in the area.
Republic Act 8550 or “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, mandates that all coastal municipalities to enact ordinances that will address the sustainable management, conservation, development, protection, utilization, and deposition of all fish, fishery/ aquatic, and coastal resources within their respective municipal waters. (PIA-7 & with reports from the Aqua Sports)
