PGLU Boosts Marine Biodiversity, Fights Climate Change through Coral Reef Restoration
By: Diana E. Jutba, GPC-ENRO | Photos By: PG-ENRO | Date: June 29, 2023
Paving the way to adapt La Union coasts to climate change, the Provincial Government of La Union has intensified its commitment and efforts to restore coral reefs, regrow coastal infrastructure and foster marine life through the deployment and monitoring of artificial reefs.
On June 29, 2023, PG-ENRO personnel in partnership with LGU-San Juan conducted a monitoring on the previously installed artificial reefs.
Through the collaborative efforts of the Provincial Government of La Union, component Local Government Units, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, a total of 615 artificial reefs have been deployed in the Province. Of these, 90 artificial reefs were Province-led and deployed in San Juan, Bacnotan, and Luna. The Province also covers fifteen (15) locally managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) located in Balaoan, Caba, San Juan, Bacnotan, the City of San Fernando, Aringay, and Bauang. Of these, two (2) Marine Protected Area Networks (MPAN) were established namely the BalBaSan and CArBaSan MPAN. Further, situated in the Province of La Union is the Agoo-Damortis Protected Landscape and Seascape encompassing the three (3) coastal municipalities namely Agoo, Sto. Tomas and Rosario governed under Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018.
The Province of La Union, which consists of twelve (12) coastal municipalities, largely depends its economy on fisheries. Introducing artificial reefs in barren and unproductive reef beds for coral growth promotes fish abundance ensuring sustainable fisheries, stable livelihood, and food security in the Province. Hence, this community-based marine conservation effort through coral reef restoration while empowering the local community is one of the driving factors that boost the local economy of the Province. Anchored on a holistic and whole-of-society approach, Community Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) in coastal and fishing communities are conducted to apprise and engage them with emerging modern knowledge about marine conservation such as artificial reefs deployment and proper management.
Transforming the barren into a thriving reef is the commitment of the Provincial Government as laid down in the La Union Transformative Governance Road Map. As every Kaprobinsiaan embodies the La Union Probinsyanihan culture, the Provincial Government remains optimistic to position La Union as the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025.
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