EAGA mulls joint fishery development framework to sustain tuna breeding grounds

DAVAO CITY --- With the rising concern on global issues like climate change and
its impact on biodiversity and marine resources, member countries of the Brunei
Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)
are deliberating on a draft framework for joint fisheries development in support
of policies that call for the sustainable management of tuna spawning grounds in
the Coral Triangle.

With the help of the German Technical Cooperation, an initial draft of the MOA
prepared by the Philippine EAGA Working Group on Fisheries is now being reviewed
and finalized by the member countries.

The proposed framework, in the form of a Memorandum of Agreement, will establish
the concept of a fisheries consortium among fishing industry stakeholders in the
BIMP- EAGA.

The proposed consortium is seen as a forum that facilitates discussion of issues
on fisheries development as well as opportunities such as access to technology,
access to market, access to funding, capacity building of fishermen, as well as
public-private partnership.

Specifically, the MOA proposed that each county shall designate specific areas
within their respective territorial waters where the consortium members can be
allowed to operate according to the constitution and laws of specific countries.

The MOA is expected to yield joint economic activities among BIMP-EAGA fishing
industries within the common fishing areas in the sub-region.

“The time to get our acts together for the conservation and sustainable
management of our marine biodiversity is of timely importance now, more than
ever, because the future generations will largely benefit from this abundance,”
said Usec. Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of Mindanao Economic Development Council
(MEDCo)

Leyretana said that the Greater Sulu-Sulawesi corridor has been identified as one
of the development priorities in BIMP-EAGA, where the rich fishing grounds and
spawning areas of tuna can be found.

The revitalization of the BIMP-EAGA sub-regional cooperation has been a key
strategy of the government to fast track socio-economic development in Mindanao
and Palawan, as the Philippines’ focus areas, wherein MEDCo plays an integral
role as the country’s Philippine Coordinating Office (PCO).

Leyretana also said that the thrust on fisheries development supports the ongoing
Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) which stresses the importance of marine and
coastal resources and people of the Coral Triangle, the world's largest
biodiversity site spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,
Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

A Philippine National CTI Coordinating Committee has been tasked to implement
programs and projects building on the regional cooperative programs that
highlight sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems.

This spawning area of tuna covers almost 1.6 billion acres and holds the richest
population of corals, fish, crustaceans, marine plants, sea turtles and other
marine species.

The Philippines together with the five countries including BIMP-EAGA recently
signed the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food
Security at the World Ocean Conference in Manado last May. MEDCo

Young Muslim leaders unite to craft peace and development action plan

DAVAO CITY—Young Mindanao leaders with a unique experience in the forefront of national policy formulation and lawmaking met here to draft their action agenda in support of peace and development in the region.

Alumni of the Congressional Internship Program for Young Muslim Leaders (CIPYML), a partnership project of the Philippine House of Representatives and the U.S. government, gathered for their first-ever reunion to focus on how they can play a more effective role in peace-building and economic growth in their communities.

“Community is where it all begins,” said former CIPYML intern Abdelnur Campong. “It’s where we can make a difference, right here, right now.”

This is the first reunion for the former interns, who come from different areas of Mindanao and from various Moro tribes. Although they regularly contribute to the CIPYML e-group, this was the first time that alumni from different batches had gathered together under one roof.

“This was a chance to see how we can converge our efforts,” said Marifah Agar, one of 163 young leaders who have “graduated” from the internship program over the last four years.

Agar, a data analyst, regularly volunteers as a peace education teacher at the barangay level, working with local religious leaders.

CIPYML is managed by USAID’s Growth with Equity in Minanao (GEM) Program, which is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council.

Interns spend 13 weeks in Congress, during which they obtain “hands-on” experience in policy research and formulation. They are also given the opportunity to interact with members of the House of Representatives, Senate and other national government leaders.

The program includes immersion in specialized courses provided by Mindanao State University and the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance.

Breakout sessions focused on Mindanao’s economic competitiveness, and on fostering enabling environments for business through private-public collaboration and improved governance. Other sessions identified ways of promoting peace, particularly through transparency and improved governance, and of developing the region’s workforce.

“Moro communities place value on higher education, but we have to help them understand that vocational training is an option, and that a vocational workforce is needed for the economy to grow,” said former intern Norhana Kamid, now a senior economic development specialist at MEDCo.

The main objective of CIPYML is to develop a core of informed young Muslim leaders who are committed to democratic forms of government and who support the development of effective, democratic processes and institutions.

Using the knowledge and skills they acquired during their stint in Congress, some have run for public office, and others have pursued post-graduate studies. A good number have joined private sector and non-government organizations focused on helping to bring development to remote, conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. GEM

PROJECT SMILE

US and Filipino military, and Project Smile provide free cleft palate/lips operation in Jolo, Sulu. (HO/JSOTF-P)