by: Claro A. Lanipa
Pagadian City, May 9 (PIA) – To enhance
and raise people’s awareness on the
conservation, protection and sustainable management of Philippine coastal and
ocean resources, the month of May has
been declared as the “Month of the Ocean” in the Philippines through Presidential
Proclamation No. 57 issued in 1999.
Section 2 of the Proclamation mandates
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department
of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR) to spearhead the observance of the Month of the Ocean (MOO) in
collaboration with the different sectors of society by undertaking series of activities to make the observance more
meaningful..
This year’s theme is, “Buhay Dagat,
Buhay Natin,” in conjunction with the
celebration of the International Day of Biological Diversity (IDBD) on
May 22 with the theme “Marine Biodiversity” and the “World Migratory Bird Day”
on May 12-13 with the theme “Migratory Birds and People Together Through Time.”
Meanwhile, DENR Regional Field Office 9
has prepared series of activities for the month long celebration such as the
hanging of streamers, radio guesting, conduct of information, education and
communication (IEC) in schools and communities, migratory birds watching and
counting and the conduct of marine and coastal assessment and survey in Taganak Island, Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, among
others.
On the other hand, part of its awareness campaign and in celebration of the World Migratory Bird Day
officials of the DENR together with the officials of the local government units
concerned will conduct a migratory bird watching and counting in Tukuran and
Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur on May 11 and 12 respectively. (CAL/PIA9)
