Second district mayors of Cebu province have created the Southeast Cebu Coastal Resource Management Council (SCCRMC) that aims to protect the coastal resources here.

The mayors on Tuesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to create the council.

Governor Gwen Garcia welcomed the development as she was the one who inspired the council’s creation in 2005 during her first gubernatorial term.

The MOA was signed by Mayors Michael Angelo Sestoso of Alcoy town; Jose Tumulak Jr. of Oslob; Merlou Derama of Boljoon; Marites Buscato of Santander; Allan Sesaldo of Argao; Jeffrey Belcina of Dalaguete; and Emerito Calderon Sr. of Samboan.

SCCRMC’s creation adheres to the policy declared in Republic Act 10654 or the amended Philippine Fisheries Code wherein overriding consideration in the utilization, management and development of coastal and marine resources is needed to achieve food security.

The council recognizes that the seven southeast Cebu towns have municipal waters that cover a portion of two of the important fisheries ecosystems in Central Visayas which are the Cebu-Bohol Strait and Tañon Strait Protected Seascape.

The council enables local government units (LGUs) to attain genuine and meaningful local autonomy in their responsibility of managing the environment and natural resources within their territorial jurisdiction.

Through the MOA, the southeast Cebu towns agreed to work together within their common coastal ecosystem in order to maximize resources and benefits to be gained from a meaningful collaboration on habitat and fisheries protection and management, coastal tourism and management, and coastal protection and management, among others.

Garcia said that coastal resources are a source of wealth to Cebu’s southeast towns.

The seven Cebu mayors have already agreed to contribute annual funds worth PHP50,000 each for the council. (PNA)