By Perla Lena/PNA
ILOILO CITY — The province of Guimaras will be showcasing its best practices on integrated coastal management (ICM) as it hosts the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum this November 29.
“The implementation of the (ICM) program here is good and we are the first local government unit from out of the implementing sites to publish the second state of the coast publication,” Jaypee Kein Entredicho, executive assistant to the Office of the Governor, said in an interview Friday.
Entredicho said they will be showcasing 10 out of the 12 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the province, including the Taklong Island National Marine Reserve (TINMR) – which was cited as the most outstanding National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) MPA in the Philippines.
The province will also present to delegates the Igang Bay Marine Sanctuary, the Pamanculan Fish Sanctuary, the Igang Marine Station (IMS) – SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Tan-Luc Marine Protected Area and theTumalintinan Point Marine Protected Area.
Also included in the itinerary of the delegates are the San Lorenzo Wind Farm, Guisi Light House, Barangay Dolores Marine and Fish Haven, the Jordan Marine Turtle Sanctuary, and the Guimaras National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center.
“We are now preparing the sites and talking with people’s organizations and other concerned stakeholders to be ready for the international gathering,” he added.
The forum, with the theme “25 Years of Partnerships for Healthy Oceans, People and Economies: Moving as One with the Global Ocean Agenda”, expects the participation of environmental ministers and chief executives from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
The forum will be held at the Andana Resort in the town of Nueva Valencia.
