Eastern Samar Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone has pledged support for the revival of a two-decade-old alliance of coastal municipalities aimed at strengthening marine conservation and sustainable fisheries management.
Evardone committed P1.5 million in annual financial assistance from the provincial government to the Alliance of Seven Municipalities for Integrated Coastal Zone Management, or A7 for ICZM, through a memorandum of agreement.
The governor said the provincial government fully supports the initiative, emphasizing the need to protect marine resources and ensure their sustainability for future generations.
The alliance is composed of the municipalities of Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes and Guiuan.
Formed to promote integrated coastal resource management, the group seeks to strengthen coastal protection, sustain fisheries and food security, encourage stakeholder participation in resource management and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for fishing communities.
Alliance members said the seven contiguous municipalities face common challenges in their shared fishing grounds, including declining fish catch caused by overfishing, habitat degradation, illegal fishing activities, the influx of transient fishers and the intrusion of commercial fishing vessels into municipal waters.
Officials expressed hope that the renewed partnership and provincial support will help address these threats while improving the long-term sustainability of marine resources and coastal livelihoods in Eastern Samar.
