Driven with the goal of cultivating sensitivity through sustainable measures for the conservation of the Danajon Bank “Double Barrier Reef,” the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) has approved eight marine protected areas’ (MPAs) subproject proposals for funding under the Philippine Rural Development Project – Global Environment Facility (PRDP – GEF) last April 10, 2017.

The approved proposals are GEF municipalities covered in the Danajon Bank with its MPAs managed by various people’s organization namely:
1. Bien Unido :
Bilangbilangan East Marine Sanctuary
Hingotanan West Marine Sanctuary
2. Pres. Carlos P. Garcia
Sidlakan Marine Protected Area
Aguining Marine Protected Area
3. Talibon
Cataban marine Sanctuary
Guindacpan Marine Protected Area
4. Ubay
Sinandigan Marine Protected Area
5. Buenavista
Asinan Reef Fish Sanctuary

Latest assessment of fish catch reveals that the Danajon Bank is no longer in its prime state due to exposure to extreme fishing.

The PRDP-GEF project warrants the identified MPAs a $7-million-dollar grant solely focused for marine biodiversity conservation and fisheries resource management implementation.

Aside from the protection and conservation, the Danajon Bank restoration will also encourage sustainable enterprise for the seaweed industry in Bohol which has long been identified as a legacy and trademark of the Boholanos, said Bohol GEF Focal Person Remi Regacho.

Atty. Salvador Diputado, Department of Agriculture VII Regional Executive Director and RPAB Chair shared that all these marine protected areas are vulnerable.

“We are supposed to protect these areas and we should not only be involved in the consideration of these proposals but also actively participate in the implementation and monitoring,” said RED Diputado.

In the course of the deliberation, emphasis has been given in terms of strengthening and ensuring sustainable on-the-ground improvements for identified MPAs by mounting additional floating guardhouses, enhanced coastal patrols, equipment, required budgetary costs, workshops/trainings pertaining to conservation efforts of Danajon.

Talibon Coastal Resource Management Officer Alex Taran positively estimates that in six years’ time, the density and fish biomass will increase once all the plans are executed properly.

On a different note, the RPAB also proposed an amendment of a 10% increase in income from the average of 5% increase by the end of the project term in the approved proposals which are due for endorsement to the Project Support Office- Visayas (PSO) for fund release.

Based on the GEF-World Bank review mission last January of this year, most of the problems encountered by the managing organizations in their respective MPAs point to the lack of necessary equipment for apprehending violators in the presence of troll fishing, danish siene (liba-liba),dynamite and cyanide fishing. (Bexmae P. Jumao-as, RPCO 7 InfoACE)