New Zealand team in Camiguin to assess coastal resource project

New Zealand review team leader Rina Rosales (center) interacts with the members of Mahinog Coastal Law Enforcement Action team (Clean)

MAHINOG, Camiguin - A team from New Zealand Embassy arrived in Camiguin on Saturday to conduct mid-term assessment in the implementation of the five-year integrated coastal resource management project that started in 2007 in 40 coastal villages and five municipalities of the province.

With its rich and diverse coastal resources, Camiguin is one of the few provinces to get P116 million funding from the New Zealand Agency for International Aid (NZAid) to institutionalize its integrated coastal resource management program (ICRMP).

The project, according to the agreement, envisions to increase natural productivity and enhanced integrity of coastal and marine resources in the island province. At the same time it provides sustainable economic activities among the Camiguinons to improve quality of life.

According to Mahinog town coastal resources management officer Arlino C. Arca that through the project, major development and conservation activities in Mantigue Island in barangay San Roque and Burias Reef to make these areas as ecotourism sites have been undertaken. Water quality monitoring stations in Mantigue Island have been established.

He said the project has since generated significant incomes for the municipality and provided livelihood opportunities among the fisherfolks.

In addition, seven (7) marine protected areas have been established and rehabilitated in Mahinog alone while municipal waters in five municipalities have been delineated.

Morever, coastal law enforcement action networks (CLEAN) formerly the bantay dagat teams have been trained and mobilized to strengthen coastal law enforcement. Four patrol boats have been provided for this purpose.

Also in Mahinog, alternative livelihood and enterprise activities such as green mussel production project in barangay Benoni, among others, are being established.

The team, composed of Ms. Rina Rosales, team leader, Mr. Kenneth Mackay and Ms. Lourdes Padilla, will assess issues being faced in the implementation of the program and propose whether phase 2 of the project should be granted or not.

Their visit includes interaction with the technical working committee, the Governor and Mayors of the 5 municipalities of Camiguin and several beneficiary groups of the project.