The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Cadiz City recently turned-over to Bantay Dagat teams of Suyac Island Eco-Park Tourist Attendant Association (SIETAAS) and Molocaboc Island Reef Rangers Association (MIRRA) various tools for their use in support to their sustainable and biodiversity-friendly livelihood anchored on eco-tourism.
SIETAAS and MIRRA are both beneficiaries of the Sagay Marine Reserve, a protected area in Negros Occidental.
As part of their livelihood, both SIETAAS and MIRRA are engaged in giving eco-tours, guided water sports and other tour guiding activities within the Reserve. Thus, CENRO Cadiz provision of tools such as snorkeling gears, rash guards, flippers, flashlights, megaphones and even lapels for use during the tour are a big help to both associations.
The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) followed after the turn-over of the tour guiding tools, held at the office of Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon, III. Also present to witness the event were Vice Mayor Narciso S. Javelosa, Jr., PENR Officer Edgardo M. Rostata and CENR Officer Rally L. Cagayanan.
The various tour guiding tools will greatly help the beneficiaries in their livelihood and to make them better tour guides, said Edgardo M. Rostata, DENR 6PENR Officer of Negros Occidental.
The event was also in line with the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP) which aims to comprehensively manage, address and effectively reduce the drivers and threats of degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems.
CMEMP also aims to achieve and promote sustainability of ecosystem services, food security and climate change resiliency for the benefit of the present and future generations. Part of the components of the program is the Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise (BDFE) which aims to promote the sustainable use of coastal and marine biological resources and at the same time, create wealth and equitable sharing of benefits to the community through the Peoples Organization (POs) and/or Local Government Units (LGUs) Multi-Purpose Cooperative by providing micro, small and medium enterprises.
Partnership meeting regarding the Himoga-an River Rehabilitation was also held after the tools were formally given to officers of the association. (DENR 6-PENRO-Negros Occidental)
