WOMEN GUARDING THE MPA 8 HOURS A DAY!

In my eleven years working as fishery technician/CRM Coordinator, I observed that all MPA enforcement members are men. Women are involved in the MPA management but in other committees like education and monitoring. With the aid of the radio program, film showing and lectures, finally, women involved in the MPA management specifically in the enforcement team. Last month I did lectures with them and present the problem on how to guard the MPA 24/7. After the lecture, the president of Uba women’s organization committed to help in guarding the Uba Marine Protected Area during day time to have 24/7 guarding to stop the intrusion within the no take zone. It was proved when Paul Butller, Senior Vice President of Rare and Susana Evans, the writer of Oceana Magizine visited the MPA of Uba. Paul Butler was delighted of the women participation to get the 24/7 MPA guarding.

MPA Enforcement Plan Updating for Burgos and Uba Marine Protected Areas

Some photos capturing the newly concluded MPA enforcement plan updating in Cortes, Surigao del Sur. The activity was participated by the Management Committees and enforcement teams of Burgos and Uba Marine Protected Areas.

Campaign Calendar

One of the social marketing strategies of Cortes Pride Campaign in the Strengthening the Management of Marine Protected Areas for Sustainable Fishing, is the calendar. The calendar has two designs.    

One is for the fishers and the other one is for the community residents. For fishers the illustration at the upper part infers that having an MPA would benefits to increase fish catch and able them to send their children to school. Likewise, the text messages focusing on behavior change of not intrude the MPA to allow fish to reproduce more that would result to the increase of fish catch. For community residents, the illustration at the upper part which was the output from the elementary student during the poster making contest infers also that reporting MPA intrusion to hotline numbers would benefit them to the availability of fish to buy in the market.

LGU ManCom find ways to implement 24/7 MPA guarding

Last Friday, February 17, 2012, we conducted the LGU ManCom meeting with the following Agenda to wit;

1. Updates of Cortes Pride Campaign

2. Visit of Paul Buttler and company

3. Enforcement Planning

4. Issues and concerns regarding MPA enforcement.

For the updates of the campaign, ManCom members were happy because the social marketing activities such as radio program that reached the nearby barangay with a good impact. One of the good news is the whole community residents and fishers of the two barangays, Balibadon and Mabahin committed to involved in guarding and protecting their MPA with leadership of the barangay Council.

Campaign Song Launching

A song entitled “Sangtuaryo” composed and sung by a popular composer-singer in the province of Surigao del Sur created a buzz with the LBDA-Lanuza Bay Development Alliance (LBDA) people.

Likewise, the campaign song launch event inculcated the minds of the people that the Pride Campaign is a serious campaign because it is supported and participated by member municipality of LBDA.

Uba MPA Management Committee initiated Mangrove planting

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource has program on mangrove planting. Barangay Uba was very lucky because their site was identified of the program. Uba MPA Management Committee being an organized group is the recipient of the program. Being the conservation fellow of Cortes Rare Pride Campaign, I am very happy of this initiative because it would enhance the near-shore marine life productivity since mangrove is one of the marine habitats that support hundreds of marine life. Aside from that, it will also help mitigate climate change. Attached are the photos of Uba MPA Management Committee doing sticking as guide for planting the mangrove.

Illegal Fishers converted to Steward

At first I can’t believe that fisher’s in the village of Barobo, Poblacion, Cortes, Surigao del Sur, the nearby place of the campaign site of the Rare Pride Campaign shifted their minds from fatalist to steward. The former Mayor Dennis H. Yu tried to convince the people in this village to involve in the Coastal Resource Management Program in the year 2000. However, they refused it. The current Mayor Pedro M. Trinidad, Jr. tried also to convince this people but the same result with the former Mayor. Last December 2011, me, and the staff of the Municipal Agriculturist conducted a half day orientation using the strategy on social marketing that I’ve learned. After my presentation, they asked queries on the status of the Poblacion MPA. We told them that as of now, only 2 people guarding the said MPA. They said us if they can guard the MPA.