BMT wardens cite key interventions

AN institutionalized unified Coastal Law Enforcement Team (CLET) for the Bohol Marine Triangle (BMT) and a fast-boat equipped with necessary facilities that can board even across the municipal boundaries of each town has become the main interventions cited during the action planning workshop of some 30 fish warden stakeholders here.

At a workshop at Villa Alzhun Tourist Inn set to advance protection and conservation of BMT resources marked by islands of Panglao, Pamilacan, and Balicasag, the fish wardens realized only when they become institutionalized and equipped can they be more effective. The planning activity was initiated and organized by the Panglao, Dauis, Baclayon (Padayon) BMT Management Council, the sustaining organization that continues the initiatives and gains of the Bohol Marine Triangle Project's (BMTP) Marine Biodiversity Conversation and Protection program. BMT will soon terminate by the end of 2006.

Padayon BMT Management Council is currently headed by Panglao Mayor Doloreich Dumaluan at the Management Board and co-chaired by Baclayon Mayor Benecio Uy and Dauis Mayor Luciano Bongalos. Board members include SB committee chairs on Agriculture, Fisheries and Tourism, ABC Presidents, People's Organizations (POs) Federated Presidents, representatives of the private sector, the BMT project coordinator and the executive director. To note, effective coastal resource management is a basic LGU service but without effective coastal law enforcement, it cannot succeed. Coastal law enforcement units in each of the three BMT municipalities have already been created and are functional to promote voluntary compliance and together with PNP, apprehend violators of national and local laws and regulations.

Meanwhile, another BMT Coastal Law Enforcement forum is be undertaken jointly by the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) and the Padayon BMT on Sept. 22. Environmental laws officials from Manila , Cebu and Bohol have confirmed to grace the occasion that is aimed to update and strengthen all the members of the municipal coastal law enforcement teams in the BMT area .

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