Bacolod City – Negros Occidental 2nd district Rep. Alfredo Marañon III joined the call for the establishment of marine protected areas in all coastal municipalities and cities in the country.
Marañon, who chairs the House committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, has sounded alarm on reduction of marine captured fisheries, due to overfishing and use of destructive activities, as well as over population, among others.
There is a pending bill in the House of Representatives pushing for the establishment of marine protected areas in coastal local government units, similar to a bill filed by Marañon, which was not approved in the previous Congress.
Under the proposed bill, Marañon said 10 percent of territorial waters of a coastal LGU should be allocated for marine conservation, which is similar to a marine sanctuary, in order to provide a breathing space for marine resources to grow, and to restore ecological balance.
The 2nd district of Negros Occidental is composed of the coastal local government units of Cadiz, Sagay, and Manapla.
Sagay City has a marine sanctuary, which is also a tourist destination in Negros Occidental.
On the other hand, Marañon also lauded the local government units of Sagay and Cadiz cities, as well as Manapla, for being among the 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance awardees.
He said local chief executives of Sagay, Manapla, and Cadiz have been working hard to deliver what is needed for their constituents.
This will entitle their respective employees to avail of Performance Based Bonus next year. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)