A provincial ordinance that seeks to set guidelines that dive shops and other related businesses should follow to ensure the protection of coral reefs has been filed before the Cebu Provincial Board.
Among the measures included in the draft law is the implementation of a strict “no touch” and “minimum discharge” policy on coral reefs for guests during reef diving and snorkeling activities.
Operators will also be required to participate in reef monitoring sessions and in regular underwater cleanups under the The Provincial Coral Reef Protection Ordinance of 2014.
“The provincial government of Cebu sees an urgent need to enact and adopt an ordinance which shall ensure not only the sustainable development of its coral reef and natural resources but also the protection of the diving tourism industry,” said Board Member Thadeo Ouano, author of the measure.
Ouano will introduce the ordinance on first reading in today’s session of the Provincial Board.
The initiative is in compliance with the Sustainable Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Program (SCREMP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which aims to increase the role of the tourism sector in coastal and marine environment protection, Ouano explained.
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje signed an adminstrative order last Feb. 25, 2013 for the nationwide implementation of the program.
Under the proposed measure, all dive guides and boat captains operating in component cities and municipalities of the province will have to secure accreditation from their respective local government units (LGUs).
The accreditation will be granted after an orientation on responsible diving twice in a year to be conducted by the town or city’s agriculture or environment and natural resources officer.
Guides and boat captains who are not accredited will face fines.
Establishments violating the measure face cancellation of business permit “and perpetual disqualification to open similar business” in the city or town where the violation was committed.
Green Fins
The guidelines on the draft law were based on ones set under Green Fins, the only recognized environmental set of standards to guide business owners in best practices in marine protection, said the proposed ordinance.
The sale of corals and other marine life during the dive operations will be prohibited while the boat used during the operation should have adequate facilities for the proper disposal of garbage.
“They should provide training, briefing or literature for employees and guests regarding good environmental practices for snorkeling, diving, boating, marine wildlife interaction and other marine recreational activities as well as information on local Marine Protected Areas, environmental rules and regulations,” stated the ordinance.
Ouano stressed the need to establish an official guidelines considering that the whole Philippine archipelago is covered by the Coral Triangle, a vast expanse of sea spanning six countries in Southeast Asia, portions of the Pacific and the Indian Ocean and home to 76 percent of the world’s coral species.
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