Kalibo, Aklan- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan has held in abeyance action on the proposed Ordinance of the town of Ibajay declaring the 44 hectares of mangroves in barangay BugtongBato and Naisud as Mangrove Eco-Tourism Park.
The provincial legislative body wanted the Local Government Unit of Ibajay to thoroughly confer with the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office to thresh out conflicts in matters of jurisdiction and management scheme over the area.
Like the Kalibo Mangrove Reforestation Area, the Ibajay Mangrove area is fast becoming an attraction for nature lovers.
Fisherfolks in barangay Bugtongbato and Naisud had bonded themselves into two organizations and have separately applied for Community Based Forest Management Program for the two organizations to manage the mangrove areas in their respective jurisdiction.
Both organizations have sought the endorsement of the SP of their application but like the Ibajay Ordinance, the provincial legislative body deferred action on their request.
Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Merlyn Aborka of Boracay who has also jurisdiction over Ibajay said unlike the Kalibo Mangroves which were planted and cultured by the residents thereat, the Ibajay Mangroves are natural growth forests.
Aborka said the DENR, under the law, has the exclusive jurisdiction over naturally grown-forests and the only possible management that can be done under the circumstances is only a co-management scheme between DENR and non-government organizations intending to co-manage the mangrove areas.
The SP has advised LGU Ibajay and the NGOs in Bugtongbato and Naisud to await for the position of the DENR Regional Executive Director for them to be able to finetune their ordinance and applications to suit the requirements of the agency.
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