Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental tops 2017 search for outstanding coastal communities

The municipality of Laguindingan in Misamis Oriental has topped the government's selection of outstanding coastal communities, based on its 2017 search.

In a release, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on Wednesday said that Laguindingan and four other winners were conferred by President Rodrigo Duterte with Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol during an award ceremony last Thursday.

Laguindingan was cited for its establishment of a 50-hectare
man-made mangrove forest and its facilities in Ecological Solid Waste
Management.

The municipality, along with last year's grand prize winner, Cortes, Surigao Del Sur, are set to receive P30 million worth of fisheries livelihood projects.

Palompon, Leyte and Claveria, Cagayan, the first and second runners-up, will get P18 million and P10 million worth of fisheries livelihood projects respectively.

The annual search was launched by the BFAR in 2016 to "encourage coastal communities and discourage illegal fishing activities."

The criteria include the community's prohibition of illegal fishing, observance of off-fishing season, declaration of marine protected areas, clean coastal waters without any garbage or industrial effluence flowing to the sea, and effective mangrove protection.

“The Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan program promotes fisheries protection and conservation, highlights the value of sustainable management of fisheries and aquatic resources, and encourages stakeholders’ engagement in guarding our seas,” Agriculture Undersecretary and BFAR director Eduardo Gongona said. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News