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06-13-2008 - Three municipalities in Bohol Province took a big leap forward in their coastal management efforts when they agreed to integrate their individual marine sanctuaries in the Bohol Sea. The 202-hectare MPA Network in the southeast coast of Bohol is within the waters of the three towns who have adopted the acronym DuGJan, derived from the Visayan word dughan which means the chest or the heart. The word underscores their heartfelt desire to protect the area’s marine resources for their people, and promote its sustainable use. The MOA calls for the sharing of efforts in law enforcement, legislation, information and education, tourism, and resource mobilization to ensure the proper management of the MPA network. The Bohol Sea is an ecologically-linked ecosystem which includes around 2,810 hectares of mangrove areas and about 132 square kilometers of coral reefs. It is one of the major fishing grounds in Central Visayas, which is unfortunately overfished. The sea hosts about eight threatened resident and migratory species of cetaceans, and is famous for its whale shark and manta ray populations that are important to the harmonious balance of the ecosystems. Bohol holds the record of having the most number of MPAs in the country. The new MPA Network is configured to be a model for the cooperative management of marine areas that considers ecological and social connectivities. It provides hope for the rich diversity and declining bounty of the Bohol Sea. Technical assistance for the MPA program is being provided by The Philippine Environmental Governance Project 2 (EcoGov2) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
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The mayors of Duero, Guindulman and Jagna signed a Memorandum of Agreement to establish and jointly manage the first marine protected area (MPA) network in Central Visayas and one of just a few in the country. It was a fitting climax to the Month of the Ocean celebrations in the province.
