The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is urging local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to invest in the Manila Bay-Bataan Coastal Strategy project.
DENR Undersecretary Analiza R. Teh said in a statement that such investment will create jobs and bring to life key biodiversity areas.
A key result should be the restoration and sustainability of the windowpane oyster (capiz) industry in Samal, Bataan, Teh said.
“Bagac and Morong (Bataan) abound with numerous fish species. And the locally known capiz or windowpane oyster shells used to be abundant in Manila Bay. It still can be found along the coast of Samal,” said Teh during a workshop of the Manila Bay-Bataan Coastal Strategy project.
The windowpane oyster shell industry in Samal, Bataan was once a flourishing industry. However, it declined due to the dwindling supply of the oyster shell caused by illegal and destructive fishing.
Given the increased investment of LGUs all over Manila and Bataan in the coastal areas’ restoration, the investment for Manila Bay-Bataan’s restoration will result not only in natural resources preservation but also yield economic benefits for residents, said Teh.
“The Mandanas ruling will increase internal revenue allotment [IRA] of LGUs by 56 percent. So there’s an opportunity for us to engage the LGUs to invest more in natural resources protection. We can convince LGUs to undertake co-management of Protected Areas with the community,” said Teh.
“Sustainable land management in Bataan promises long-term benefits to the ecosystem and the economy.”
Teh said the private sector should be persuaded to also invest in the project.
“There is also an opportunity for us to rally the private sector to invest. Let’s see how we can provide incentives to them so they can participate actively not only as part of CSR [corporate social responsibility] but investment on natural resources protection,” she said.
Teh noted that on top of livelihood benefits, fisheries production, and tourism, these natural resources automatically become the Filipino people’s health protection.
“Natural resources are our ‘vaccine’ to any health crisis. We need to show how we can contribute to our economic recovery and help solve the pandemic,” she said.
The Manila Bay-Bataan Coastal Strategy project is a comprehensive 5-year project financed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
It covers three phases: cleanup and water quality improvement; rehabilitation and resettlement; and education and sustainment.
The Global Environment Facility has allotted $2.7 million for the project, while the government will provide a budget of $15.5 million.
The project will train provincial government people in sustainable land management.
“Interventions include the identification and uptake of biodiversity-friendly agriculture and sustainable fisheries. [These activities should] reduce pressure on the biodiversity and ecosystems especially in uplands and address soil erosion and excessive sedimentation downstream in the riparian areas and coastal zones,” according to a project briefer.
The project will be co-implemented by DENR’s-Biodiversity Management Bureau and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management.