By ANGELINE VALENCIA
Bohol Sunday Post | April 19, 2009

The Philippine Coast Guard will be hosting a roundtable discussion on the proposed memorandum of agreement on saving Balicasag Island on April 21 at its headquarters in port area, Manila.

Balicasag Island serves as niche to a narrow reef with nine to 49.5 meters wide that gained for it the reputation of a world-renowned dive site and became the favorite destination of many foreign and local divers.

Governor Erico Aumentado said “the National Housing Authority had already inspected the island and will render its report as an input to the MOA”.

Aumentado’s effort to protect Balicasag Island gained the support of Undersecretary for Staff Bureaus Manuel Gerochi of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) who assured that DENR can assist in the “strict enforcement of easement rules and regulations and other key activities.

The governor, in his letter-invitation to local leaders involved, expressed enthusiasm after parties to the MOA “had expressed full support to the objective we want to achieve”.

Meantime, PCG, under the leadership of Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, offered to host the technical discussion on Tuesday for the finalization of the proposed MOA to save Balicasag.

The meeting was set following Gerochi’s recommendation that representatives of agencies involved should deliberate on proposed amendments in the MOA.

Gerochi had suggested that the MOA shall include in the points, the establishment of a Balicasag Island Management Committee, instead of a task force, to be initially composed of all its signatories.

The body shall oversee the preparation of a five-year development plan and monitor its implementation.

Gerochi also recommended the MOA to also include a provision on the establishment of a Multi-sectoral Monitoring Inter-Agency under the Office of the Governor, to be supported by the appropriate unit of the provincial government, which shall oversee the development and management of the island.

It shall also coordinate the preparation of a five-year Balicasag Comprehensive Land and Sea Plan, Environmental Impact Analysis and other related planned activities in the island and its environment.

“The establishment of the multi-sectoral management committee is consistent with Executive Order 533, entitled ‘Adopting Integrated Coastal Management as a National Strategy to ensure the Sustainable Development of the Country’s Coastal and Marine Environment and Resources and Establishing Supporting Mechanisms for its implementation’,” Gerochi stated in his recommendation that precedes the idea of holding the round table.

The undersecretary had also recommended that DENR-7 be made a member of the Balicasag Management Committee.

He also pointed that “it is important to highlight Balicasag is part of Proclamation 1801 declaring certain islands, caves and peninsulas in the Philippines as tourist zones and marine reserved under then administration and control of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).

PTA must also facilitate the release of funds for the clearing operation in the 20-meter easement, Gerochi pointed out.
PTA General Manager Mark Lapid, First District Representative Edgar Chatto, Panglao Mayor Benedicto Alcala are among those invited to the meeting.