In pursuit of a shared goal of strengthening and empowering the community, a consultative meeting with ESSU and LGU-Borongan took place yesterday, January 9, 2024, at the President’s Conference Room to discuss the implementation of the DAGAT Program.
The DAGAT program, or Diversity Assessment and Governance in the Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems program, primarily aims to update the status of the marine resources in the fish sanctuaries as a baseline for the enhancement of management approaches and identify conservation or rehabilitation measures or practices.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders and officials from ESSU, headed by its University President, Dr. Andres C. Pagatpatan, Jr., and from LGU-Borongan, led by the City Vice Mayor, Hon. Emmanuel Tiu Sonco, as well as representatives from the City Environment Natural Resources Office (CENRO), City Agriculture, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO).
Strategies and action plans were discussed during the meeting to ensure the successful implementation of the DAGAT program. ESSU, through the project leaders, Dr. Ma. Natalia A. Ciasico, Director of Research, and Ms. Maricar T. Obina, BS Biology Program Head, highlighted their expertise in the field, offering to provide technical assistance and training workshops on participatory community-based biodiversity assessment. LGU-Borongan, on the other hand, expressed their full support and commitment to this initiative, especially since it supports the priority program of the present government on biodiversity and ecotourism.
As a significant step forward in their collaborative efforts to safeguard both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, ESSU and LGU-Borongan are scheduled to have the MOA signing and benchmarking activities in February 2024. Ultimately, the DAGAT program aims to establish an ordinance declaring Borongan Bay a Marine Protected Area, ensuring its long-term conservation and sustainable use.
