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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Monday, July 22, 2013

Greenpeace, locals partner for protection of Bicol seas, resources

By Sally A. Atento

LEGAZPI CITY, July 22 (PIA) -- Global environment group Greenpeace International partnered with local communities and officials in the Bicol region to intensify community action for protection of Bicol seas and marine ecosystem.

Around 30 Greenpeace volunteers, 20 of whom are foreign nationals, led the solidarity activity, “Lakbay para sa Kadagatan pasiring sa Sustenableng Pangisdaan,” on July 20 this year at the shoreline of Dancalan beach, Donsol, Sorsogon.

The event gathered fishers, government officials, and representatives from various civic and non-government organizations in the region to come up with efficient programs to address problems and issues on illegal and unregulated fishing, said AC Dimatatac, Greenpeace Southeast Asia media assistant.

“This activity is the continuation of the community conference held last year at the same venue where fisher folks highlighted the problem of illegal fishing. They cannot compete with large commercial vessels encroaching on municipal waters. This time we will include local officials to come up with committed solutions to these problems,” Dimatatac said.

This event features the docking of the MY Esperanza, the latest and largest vessel in the Greenpeace fleet, where a flotilla of around 60 fishing vessels will be formed along the 15-kilometer municipal waters to signify the symbolic claim of the said territorial waters.

Dimatatac said this ship is based in Amsterdam and has been used for environmental campaigns around the world particularly in defending oceans in crisis.

“The MY Esperanza is used for the Greenpeace Ocean Defender Tour in various parts of the world. In the Philippines, the first stop was at Dumaguete, the second stop here in Bicol, and the last will be in Manila,” said Dimatatac.

The MV Esperanza, refitted to be environment friendly, was one of 14 fire-fighting ships formerly used by the Russian navy. It is ideal for fast and long range work at 72 meters length and top speed of 16 knots.

The event commenced with a solidarity walk for the seas with local fishers and communities marching from Donsol local government unit (LGU) park to the venue carrying advocacy materials for ocean protection.

The community program also included presentations of best practices on environment protection from the academe, local government units and agencies, and fisher folks.

With this event, Dimatatac said they are expecting to strengthen the relationship between the Greenpeace and the local communities in the region to address the threat of climate change, ocean pollution, and over fishing. (MAL/SAA/PIA5, Albay) 

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