Ocean Month culmination program held

INABANGA – The Local Government Unit (LGU) and the Marine Aquarium Market Transformation Initiative (Mamti) Project for the first time held jointly the culmination program of May as Month of the Ocean. The activity is one of the Jumamoy administration's innovations to sustain its programs on coastal resource management (CRM). Mayor Josephine Socorro Jumamoy emphasized that the wonders of the marine and coastal resources of Inabanga should be taken care of and used in a constructive and lawful manner only for the benefit of the people.

Her administration constantly thinks of and implements programs and projects that protect such resources. One is the strengthening of the aquarium fish trade, a program assisted by the Mamti project and implemented by the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC), Conservation and Community Investment Forum (CCIF) and the Reef Check Foundation (RCF). This is a continuation of the CRM program which at this time deals with the livelihood aspect of the local people. She added that her administration is undaunted by lawbreakers.

For his part, Vice Mayor Hermogenes Cenabre Jr. reminded the participants to integrate CRM into their lives while CRM Action Officer and Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Francisco Alesna Jr. formally presented the town's CRM plan for the next three years. Symposia, exhibits and film showing are some of the highlights of the said activity.

Meanwhile, Anecita Gulayan, provincial coordinator for Bohol of the Fisheries Improve for Sustainable Harvest (FISH) Project discussed the Double Barrier Reef, its importance, status and initiatives undertaken to conserve and protect it. Felipe Ramiro, MAC country director shared his knowledge on the sustainability of livelihoods associated with the reef while Ellen Gallares of the First Consolidated Bank Foundation Inc. (FCBFI) and Ma. Socorro Trinidad of the Bohol Environment Management Office (Bemo) discussed the relation between population and environment and pollution and waste management in the coastal and marine areas respectively. A documentary film entitled Coral Reef Adventure that showed the beauty and wonder of the underwater world ended the activity.

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