July 24, 2026 | Municipal Function Hall, Oslob, Cebu
The Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, Inc. (CCEF) facilitated the formation of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Technical Working Group (TWG) for the proposed MPAs in the barangays of Bonbon, Hagdan, and Mainit in Oslob, Cebu.
The event gathered 29 participants (20 males and 9 females) representing the Barangay Councils of Bonbon, Hagdan, and Mainit; the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO); Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO); Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO); MFARMC and BFARMC; Bantay Dagat; people’s organizations; registered fisherfolk; women’s organizations; youth representatives; and civil society groups. This broad representation underscored the municipality’s commitment to inclusive governance and collaborative coastal resource management.
During the activity, CCEF presented the framework for the TWG, highlighting its mandate to provide technical guidance, coordinate inter-agency collaboration, facilitate community participation, and oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the proposed MPAs. The biophysical baseline assessment results—covering coral reef condition, fish biomass, and biodiversity—were also shared, serving as the scientific basis for validating sanctuary boundaries.
The participants agreed on an implementation timeline, including the drafting of a Municipal Ordinance institutionalizing the proposed MPAs, targeted for completion by August 7, 2026. The organizational structure, functions, and selection criteria of the TWG were adopted, followed by the nomination and election of officers and sectoral representatives.
Elected Officers of the MPA-TWG:
- Chairperson: Joe Ruffy Cabanlit
- Vice-Chairperson: Charina R. Olis
- Secretary: Gene Cuerda
- Treasurer: Lynde Mae Labiste
The TWG membership includes representatives from barangay councils, municipal offices, fisherfolk associations, women’s and youth groups, Bantay Dagat, CCEF, and technical advisers from DENR and BFAR.
The successful establishment of the TWG marks a major milestone in Oslob’s marine conservation agenda, strengthening institutional coordination, promoting science-based decision-making, and fostering shared accountability among stakeholders. These efforts are expected to accelerate the legal and technical processes for MPA establishment, enhance community ownership, and contribute to the long-term protection of coral reefs, sustainable fisheries, biodiversity conservation, and coastal resilience in barangays Bonbon, Hagdan, and Mainit.
This initiative is part of the Networking of MPAs thru Coastal LGUs Alliance Project (NMCLAP), generously supported by the Unico Conservation Foundation.
