La Union Levels Up Marine Protected Area Network
By: Grace L. Libong, GPC-ENRU | Photo By: GPC-ENRU | Date: August 23, 2019
BALBASAN MPA BENCHMARKING ACTIVITY. Over 40 individuals from the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU); Local Government Units of Balaoan, Bacnotan and San Juan; Department of Tourism; Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Academe; and Science of Identity Foundation (SIF) participate in the BALBASAN Marine Protected Area (MPA) Benchmarking Activity on August 19-23, 2019 in the BatMAN MPA Network in the Province of Batangas, the home of the multi-awarded Marine Protected Area and Bantay Dagat Network. Balaoan, Bacnotan and San Juan (BALBASAN), the first MPA network in Region 1 was created thru Memorandum of Agreement in 2017. Benchmarking is a part of the BALBASAN Action Plan which aimed to capacitate members by providing valuable opportunity to learn thru actual observation.
La Union delegation with over 40 participants joined the BALBASAN Marine Protected Area (MPA) Benchmarking Activity on August 19-23, 2019 in the BatMAN MPA Network in the Province of Batangas, the home of the multi-awarded MPA and Bantay Dagat Network.
The province’s delegation is composed of Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU); Local Government Units of Balaoan, Bacnotan and San Juan (BALBASAN); Department of Tourism; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Academe; and Science of Identity Foundation.
Upon arrival and courtesy call with Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, best practices and initiatives of the province were presented including different Twin Rocks MPA in San Teodoro; Arthur’s Rocks and Cathedral Rocks Fish Sanctuary in Anilao, Mabini; Carretonan-Quilitisan MPA in Calatagan; Malabrigo and Biga Fish Sanctuaries; and Refuges in Lobo.
It has been observed and learned that Batangas MPA and Bantay Dagat Network are sustained and strengthened though a healthy competition manner. If La Union has the Cleanest Safest and Greenest program as way of sustaining environmental management, the province of Batangas also has its own Batangas Recognition Awards for Verde Outstanding Marine Protected Areas as way of giving incentives for outstanding MPAs.
MPA Initiatives and best practices from this province provided the BALBASAN MPA Network members insights and strategic direction setting. Ms. Rochelle Amboya, Senior Environmental Management Specialist of Batangas, encouraged the BALBASAN Network to be a part of the Para El Mar, a biennial event that gives recognition and to showcase the country’s best performing MPAs which BALBASAN MPA Network accepted as challenge.
The benchmarking activity served as valuable opportunity for the Technical Working Groups, key implementers and partners to learn through actual observation of some models of successful MPA Network and management bodies.
BALBASAN, the first ever MPA Network in Region 1, was created through Memorandum of Agreement in 2017 among the DENR Regional Office No.1; the LGUs of Balaoan, Bacnotan and San Juan; and the PGLU.
