Coron, USAID sign agreement to preserve Siete Pecados as marine protected area

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=772831
• Monday, June 15, 2015

(PNA), JBP/CARF/RCG

CORON, Palawan, June 16 (PNA) -- The local government of Coron and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of a comprehensive master plan to further protect aquatic and cultural resources at the Siete Pecados (7 Sins) Marine Protected Area.

Last week, the signing of the agreement between the Coron LGU and the USAID was witnessed by 20 journalists, who were participants to the 5th U.S. Embassy Seminar for Regional Media (Writing for Survival: Media for Marine Conservation).

The comprehensive master plan is necessary, according to Siete Pecados park manager Jose Mazo, to preserve the 52-hectare marine park off mainland Coron as it aspires to provide systems for management, handling of personnel, aid for development projects, and direction on the administration of tour visits.

One of nine marine parks in Coron, Siete Pecados, is proof that the Coron community can make partnership work successfully among the local and national governments, and the USAID to further boost not only the fish stocks but livelihood of the people as well.

“Importante sa amin ang Siete Pecados hindi lamang dahil sa ecosystem nito kundi dito rin kami kumikita sa aming hanap-buhay (This Siete Pecados is important to us not only as an ecosystem but also because our livelihood depend on it),” Mazo told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) and other journalists, who conducted a site visit on June 12 with former environment secretary and national scientist Dr. Angel Alcala and the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Office representative.

Just a few minutes boat ride from the famous Kayangan Lake on Coron Island, Siete Pecados is one of the reasons why resort businesses have flourished in this island town in northern Palawan.

“Kung walang proteksyon ang Siete Pecados, marahil hindi kikita ang mga may-ari ng mga resort at hotel dito sa Coron (If Siete Pecados is not protected, maybe the owners of the resorts and hotels here will not have income),” Mazo said, adding around 400 tourists come near the site each month to snorkel “only in the boundaries.”

He stated tourists are not allowed to come within the park as it is considered “core zone,” where no human activity should be conducted.

Located across Sitio Maquinit, Barangay Tagumpay, Coron, Vivian Facunla, coordinator of the five-year USAID Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECOFISH) Project, said Siete Pecados is home to a diverse collection of colorful fish, corals, and infrequently seen invertebrates.

This fact, she said, has contributed around PHP1.4 million in revenues since 2013, and is self-sustaining in terms of funding maintenance and regular patrol and monitoring operations.

“Happy tourists mean a prosperous local economy that attracts even more tourists, which in turn could bring more revenues to the marine park,” she said.

The protection of Siete Pecados “has also sustained the livelihood of marginal fisher folks in Tagumpay as it is sanctuary to parent fishes and their young. The result is higher survival rate of fishes, many of which migrate out of the marine park.

“That spill-over effect ensures that local fishers will have something to bring home after a day of hook-and-line fishing,” she said, adding local residents have reported a catch of as much as 10 kilos per day.

Siete Pecados has reportedly become the benchmark for creating marine parks in Coron and other local governments in the Calamianes. In fact, Mayor Clara Reyes considers the protection of critical marine ecosystems as a foundation of the LGU’s broader program for sustainable economic development.