Monday, September 8, 2008

Save Balicasag Island from Environmental Destruction

The move to save Balicasag Island as a prime dive spot perceives expansion to preserve a wider area comprising what is called as the Bohol Marine Triangle (BMT).

A stakeholders' consultation workshop enters its second day today at the Bohol Plaza Resort where the various coastal concerns of the towns of Panglao, Dauis and Baclayon will be on focus.

Gov. Erico Aumentado, Rep. Edgar Chatto and BM Ae Damalerio representing Vice Gov. Julius Herrera opened the workshop yesterday attended by Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala, Dauis Mayor Luciano Bongalos and Baclayon mayor Alvin Uy, together with their respective vice mayors, town kagawads and baragay chairs.

Gov. Aumentado challenged the LGUs to be responsive to the need to preserve the marine resources in the area which were noticed to retain damages.

He vowed full support to the joint effort of the towns in addressing the alarm on marine destruction.
For his part, Rep. Chatto said he sees the BMT as the "people or stakeholders of the tourism activities in the area, and not the BMT as an office, thus everyone residing in the area has to contribute for the preservation of the marine resources."

The two-day workshop aims to establish a harmonized implementation of various policies governing activities within the seawaters of the three municipalities where Bohol's second tourism signature destination   (diving and dolphin watching) are situated, according to Provincial Tourism Council Chairman Peter Dejaresco who delivered the statement of purpose of the workshop bearing the theme "Harmonization Towards Enhancing Local Initiatives for the Protection of the BMT."

Panglao Mayor Alcala vowed commitment to the move. However, he admitted there was "no success story of the BMT, so to speak, under the stewardship of a group, prior the newly created Padayon BMT.

Dauis Mayor Bongalos and Baclayon Mayor Uy, outgoing and incoming Padayon BMT executives, likewise vowed support for the undertaking which called for an immediate "rescue operation" considering the underwater destructions noted in the area.

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