Five years after its declaration by the local governments of Bohol and Lapu-Lapu City as a marine protected area, the 256-hectare Minantaw Marine Park and Sanctuary is showing promising signs of fisheries and aquatic resources restoration.
The Minantaw Marine Park and Sanctuary (MMPS) located in the Danajon Bank is one of the world’s six known double-barrier reefs. It is a rich source of marine biodiversity in the region and a critical fishing ground of Cebu, Bohol and Leyte and Southern Leyte.
Since the creation of the sanctuary, local fisherfolk have observed more commercially valuable species like rabbit fish, crabs, squid, seaweeds like lukot and urok.
“When we joined one of the dive surveys looking and measuring life underwater, we were surprised to see various sizes of fish now swimming in the area as well as the wide span of live corals being preserved and untouched. The presence of star fishes also indicate that the water is clean and can harbor life once again,” said Dario Lumapas Jr., a former illegal fisher turned fish warden.
Caubian barangay captain Romeo Matbagon said tourists can enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling there. Some may also do research and buy products from local fisherfolks.
A floating restaurant and a dive shop may soon rise there as business entities already processed permits.
The marine and aquatic resources of this important marine habitat has however endured abuse from illegal fishing, most notably dynamite fishing since the 1950s until it was declared a protected area.
The MMPS is the first multi-use MPA in the country. It has a 62-ha regulated zone; 55-ha for seaweed farming; 37-ha sustainable use zone; and 50-hectare core zone or no-take zone.
A 70-year-old former dynamite fisher, Lope Siton of barangay Caubian of Lapu-Lapu, said he is a witness to both the destruction and restoration of the Danajon Double-Barrier Reef. He lost both arms when a dynamite he was to use in fishing prematurely detonated.
He said the area was very rich in all kinds of marine life until illegal fishing became rampant in the ’70s until the early 2000.
Now he is one of those who thanked the private sector and the city government that helped Danajon Bank restore its natural habitat.
Rehabilitation of the degraded coastal and marine habitats in the MMPS was pursued through the joint efforts of Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), Project Seahorse Foundation (PSF), Nagkahiusang Mananagat sa Caubian (NAMACA) and the local government of Lapu-Lapu City.
“Chevron deserves credit for the success of MMPS and the community of Caubian in creating the country’s first multi-use marine park and sanctuary. It is admirable that a big commercial company like Chevron includes biodiversity as part of their drive for operational excellence,” said Angelie Nellas, PSF senior biologist.
Raissa Bautista, CPI manager for policy, government and public affairs, said a healthy ecosystem affects Chevron’s business since it can support the drawing and creation of energy from nature in a sustainable and respectful way.
She said a healthy environment also provides for the well-being and progress of local communities and will ultimately contribute to the health of the economy .
Three years after the creation of MMPS, the reef is not only showing improved health but the lives of Caubian villagers have seen positive changes as well.
The seaweed industry in Cebu gets regular produce from Caubian and the resorts of Olango Island get crabs from Caubian fishers. A nearby resort employs Caubian residents.
Trips to MMPS are also increasing due to visitors from Mandaue City, Mactan Export Processing Zone employees, resort guests (for swimming), development NGOs from Mindanao and LGUs from Zamboanga Peninsula have all visited MMPS.
People can go there when it’s ready by summer by hiring a motorized boat that usually costs P3,000 and could carry 20 to 25 persons depending on the boat.
They can also take a motorized boat for hire at P50 per person from Hilton wharf in barangay Punta Engaño or any port of origin in Lapu-Lapu City to Caubian Island, a 30- to 45-minute trip.
The success of the Chevron-Project Seahorse in the MMPS has been recognized.
Among the local and international awards of the work in the MMPS were the AmCham Foundation’s Most Promising CSR Award given during its 2nd AmCham CSR Awards.
The project won an Anvil Award of Excellence in 2009 from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.
Last year, it bagged third place in the highly prestigious Asean Champions of Biodiversity Awards.
This year, the project bagged the commendation Award in the most coveted Corporate Responsibility (CR) category at the 2011 Gold Standards Awards in Singapore.
Among the 150 entries in the Gold Standard’s 14 categories, only Chevron managed to represent the Philippines. /Norman V. Mendoza, Correspondent