Tungawan was the first municipality in Zamboanga Sibugay Province to take care of its coastal resources seriously. Now it is the first, not only in Region IX but in all of Mindanao, to be awarded a Level 2 certification for coastal resource management (CRM) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

DENR recognized the strides Tungawan made in implementing its 10-year CRM program, with technical assistance from the Philippine Environmental Governance (EcoGov) Project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Level 2 certification is given to an LGU with a multi-year CRM Plan, a biophysical assessment, active coastal law enforcement, annual CRM programming and budgeting, zoning, local legislation, registry/permit/licensing, and protected zones; and has started earning revenues from the plan. No other LGU has done it in Mindanao, quite a feat for a low-key, fourth class municipality in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The certification was received by newly-elected Tungawan Mayor Randy Climaco and first Councilor Arsenio Climaco, the previous Mayor who championed the town’s CRM program, from DENR Region Technical Director Eduardo Bisguera Jr last November 14, 2007 in Zamboanga City.

Since the adoption of its CRM Plan in September 2004, Tungawan has been able to put in place several major projects. These include the enforcement of the “no take” zone in the town’s marine protected area (MPA) for nearly three years now, biophysical monitoring of the MPA, registration of fisherfolk, issuance of fishing permits and licenses, and active enforcement of fishery laws. To date, more than 40 apprehensions of illegal fishers have been made and close to P300,000 in fines have been collected. To insure public support and to sustain the gains they have made, the local government continues to run a regular information, education and education (IEC) campaign at the barangay level.

The municipality of Tungawan has emerged as a model for coastal resource management for local government units all over the country.

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