Threats to coastal, marine ecosystem being addressed
CEBU CITY — The Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is looking for ways to reduce the threats to the country’s coastal and marine ecosystem.
Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez, director of the Biodiversity and Management Bureau (BMB), said there would be more plastic waste than fishes in the seas in the year 2050 if the threats such as destructive fishing, overfishing and plastic wastes leakage are not addressed.
“The aim of CMEMP is to implement sustainable management of coastal and marine resources to contribute to food security and improve human well-being of the coastal communities,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said they are linking science to policies by applying the researches and studies conducted by the different scientists in Asia and students from University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI).
"They share their knowledge and experiences on all aspects of coral reef biology, ecology, management, and conservation," he said.
Rodriguez added that every Filipino should be involved in protecting and managing the country’s coastal and marine ecosystem including the youth.
“Actually, the youth played a vital role in this program because they are powerful in relaying information and awareness especially on social media,” she said.
Rodriguez described the half a million of plastic wastes leakage per year as a societal problem which was mentioned by Senator Loren Legarda in the Asia-Pacific Coral Reef Symposium at Marco Polo Hotel last June 4.
"This is not just only an environmental problem but also societal," she said.
Rodriguez urged local governments to put policies in place and have a strong will in implementing Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Solid Waste Management law and the Climate Change Commission law, RA 9729.
Rodriguez said the BMB is monitoring the country’s tourist population to help reduce the sea activities that will cause destruction to the country's marine biodiversity.
DENR-BMB is also working to strengthen the Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to ease the pressure on the environment, she said.
"It's basically marrying economic gains with conservation," said Rodriguez.
According to Rodriguez, BMP provides guidance and technical assistance in identifying the biodiversity friendly enterprises in the field offices. (Calvin D. Cordova with PIT Intern Larnie L. Bacalando and CNU Intern Sharon Rose Flores)