By Claro A. Lanipa
PAGADIAN CITY, 13 Feb (PIA) – The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-IX and the local government unit (LGU)
of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
for the implementation of the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) project in said
municipality.
The project aims to come up with an effective approach
to sustainable coastal and marine development with demonstrated benefits in
enhancing economic growth, ecosystem protection, promotion of social equity,
and the quality of life of the people.
Signatories to the MOA were DENR-IX Regional Executive
Director Arleigh Adorable and Mayor Wilson Nandang of Labangan town.
The MOA signing was held at Mayor Nandang’s office.
In his message during the signing ceremony, RED
Adorable expressed elation that the LGU of Labangan had responded to the
mandate of the local government code to share responsibility with the DENR in
protecting and managing natural resources within its territorial jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, Mayor Nandang was also thankful to DENR and
expressed support for the realization of its dreams of enhancing and developing
the coastal area of his municipality for the benefit of the future generations.
Witnesses to the signing were Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone
Management Services (PAWCZMS) Regional Technical Director Dioscoro Melana, Pagadian
City-Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Ernesto
Paclibar, Coastal and Marine Management Division (CMMD) chief Forester Neneth
Ordono, Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Lorna Salera, and municipal
councilors Marlon Valenzuela, Mohiden Balimbingan, Armando Florendo and Datu
Khadafy Blao. (FPG/H.A.Ascura/DENR-IX/CAL/PIA9)