10/13/2008 -

USAID Mission Director (Philippines) Jon D. Lindborg (left) and IGACOS Mayor Aniano Antalan unveil the marker of the Tambo marine protected area in Babak District, Samal City Oct. 7. USAID photo/Larry Tan.

“Little by little, shoal by shoal, island by island, we can make a difference in protecting our natural resources.”

This was the gist of the speech delivered by USAID Mission Director (Philippines) Jon D. Lindborg during the unveiling of a marker declaring an 80-hectare Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Barangay Tambo, Babak District in the island city of Samal last Oct. 7.

Lindborg and Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) Mayor Aniano Antalan committed to help in efforts to protect the biodiversity-rich Davao Gulf during the event attended by representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), USAID’s Philippine Environmental Governance (EcoGov) project and other government agencies, as well as IGACOS officials.

In his remarks, Mayor Antalan stressed that under his leadership, IGACOS will do its share in conserving the Davao Gulf so that current and future generations will benefit from its resources.

“With the help of partners, like USAID, DENR and BFAR, we know our efforts will have a positive impact on the Gulf,” the mayor said.

Lindborg congratulated the city for its efforts, emphasizing the local government’s key role in striking a balance between the needs of the environment and the people. “It’s not choosing between the environment or the industries, nature or the people,” he said.

He emphasized that the challenge is how to strike that balance, and IGACOS, he said, is demonstrating success in performing that role.

The MPA is located along Sanipaan Shoal, in the middle of the portion of the Davao Gulf that separates Davao City and Samal island.

IGACOS has declared 15 MPAS, with EcoGov providing assistance in strengthening nine of these. The Tambo MPA, as well as the other MPAs, is expected to contribute to the recovery of fishery and marine habitats and help address the threats to Davao Gulf, now experiencing degradation of mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs due to human activities that endanger the Gulf’s vulnerable biodiversity.

The Gulf is home to five kinds of marine turtles and known feeding grounds of dugong or sea cows, some of which have been sighted near the shores of Samal island, as well as whales and dolphins.

EcoGov is also assisting IGACOS on solid waste and wastewater management. Water pollution is one of the major problems in the Davao Gulf area, posing a big threat to its biodiversity.

IGACOS, with the help of EcoGov, has just completed a wastewater assessment; results of which will be used by the City in developing a program that will address environmental as well as public health issues.

EcoGov, which encourages concerted efforts to save the Gulf, is also working with other Davao Gulf local governments, such as Davao City, Sta. Cruz, Panabo, Malalag and Digos in improving their environmental management.

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