Welcome To The 21st
Century!
The Silliman University -Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental
Management welcomes the 21st Century with the hope and vision that the new
century will usher in more collaborative work in marine conservation among
research institutions and marine scientists. The collaborative endeavor will
pave the way for innovative, useful and comprehensive research programs to
meet the demands of the new century.
Apo Celebrates Fish Sanctuary
Day
In front of the internationally known marine reserve,
Apo Island Community celebrates the founding of the reserves last December
28, 1999. |
Apo Island community, lead by Ba. Capt. Mario Pascobello, celebrates its ownership
and management of the Apo Island Marine Park every December 28th. Dr. Angel
C. Alcala, Dr. Annadel S. Cabanban and Ms. Pablina Cadiz were there to witness
the occasion and to participate in the celebration. Dr. Alcala spoke to the
community on his vision and how it came about. Dr. Cabanban and Ms. Cadiz
participated in the activities as members of the panel of judges in the "Puree
Cleanliness Contest".
Twenty years ago (1979), Dr. Angel Alcala, then Vice-President
of Silliman University and Director of the SU Marine Laboratory, went to Apo
Island to begin a conservation campaign. His vision of a marine park in this
island was funded by a small grant from a religious institution in Canada.
This educational campaign was conducted by a biologist, Dr. Cabanban, to increase
the awareness of the villagers on the services and values that the coral reefs
bring to them.
| Barangay
Captain Mario Pascobello (left) and Dr. Angel Alcala, SUAKCREM
Director, speaking during the celebration |
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The success of the
community-based resource management at Apo Island is attributed to the collaborative
efforts between Silliman University and the formal and informal leaders of
the community. Silliman University was a catalyst in the establishment of
the Park. It initiated the informal education for marine conservation and
encourage other efforts to build on this initial step. The formal and informal
leaders of the community persistently pursued the vision, participated actively
in the information of a management committee and made it effective and attuned
to the aspirations of the local community.
Center Sponsors Lecture Series
Dr. Garry R. Russ, Associate Professor of Marine Biology, James
Cook University, Townville, Australia and Pew Fellow on Marine Conservation,
lectured on the topic "Marine Reserves as a Fishery Management Tool" to Silliman
biology students and faculty in December, 1999. Dr. Russ stressed the important
function of marine reserves. His joint research with Dr. A.C Alcala on the
islands of Sumilon (off Cebu) and Apo (off Negros Oriental) during the past
16 years showed that marine reserves export adult fish to areas outside of
the reserves and therefore enhance fish catches of fishermen. Reserves produce
large number of breeders that will export fish larvae to far away reef areas
via ocean currents, thus ensuring sustainable fisheries.
Earlier, in November, 1999, Dr. A.C. Alcala lectured on marine
reserves and their functions in connection with the Pew Program on the islands
of Aliguay, Selinog, and Mantigue (Camiguin) in the Bohol Sea. Dr. Alcala
discussed the two components of the program: a) Fish and coral monitoring;
and b) Community work of social scientists and social workers. The strategy
of empowering local government units and communities to own and manage their
resources was explained. During the lecture, Dr. Alcala pointed out opportunities
for research for graduate students.
The next lecture series to be sponsored by the Center will be
in February. Dr. Laurie Hutchison Raymundo will lecture on coral reproduction.
Silliman Students Working with PEW Program
Four undergraduate social work students are working with the
communities on Selinog and Aliguay Islands under the supervision of Dr. Betty
Abregana and Prof. Merlinda Cepeda. Their objective is to set up community
organizations that will protect and manage their marine resources as well
as improve the quality of life of the people. To realize this objective, they
work closely with Barangay Captain Elpidio Bandaņo of Aliguay and Cyril Patangan
of the Office of Mayor J. Cedrick O. Ruiz of Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.
A graduate student in marine biology, Eric Cruz, is working on fish yield
on these two islands with A.C. Alcala as adviser.
Marine Reserves on the Islands of Aliguay, Selinog, and Mantigue (Off Camiguin)
| A
fisherman is using a hand-held net to catch a bait at the inner
portion of Liboran River (above), Engr. Alan Cabije calibrates
the transits after a tedious mapping survey in Liboran River (above
right) and Nonoy Ruiz (right) with Cyril Patangan (far right)
of the Department of Agriculture, Dapitan City got some samples
of the fallen mangroves due to isopod infestation.
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As a result of thorough
discussions and approval by the concerned local government officials and the
leaders of the island communities, no-take marine reserves have been established
on the three islands. The Silliman community workers assigned to these islands
are expected to strengthen the conservation initiatives of these local officials
and leaders to ensure the success of the Program. Underwater census of corals
and fish in these reserves and in the non-reserves (control areas) has been
initiated.
Publication
Two papers were submitted for publication: Alcala, A.C. and
Brown, W.C. "Philippine Frogs of the Genus Platymantis," Philippine Journal
of Science; and Alcala, A.C. "Blast Fishing in the Philippines, with Notes
on Two Destructive Fishing Activities," Marine Science Institute, University
of the Philippines.
Congratulations for Academic Achievement
The Center congratulates M. Louella Dolar and Laurie Hutchison-Raymundo
on the completion of their Ph.D. degrees in Marine Biology. Dr. Dolar took
her degree from the University of California and specializes on marine mammals.
Dr. Raymundo graduated from Cornell University with specialization on coral
reproduction.
SUAKCREM Develops a Management for the Coastal and Marine Resources
of Dapitan City
Mayor J. Cedrick O. Ruiz, of Dapitan City has asked the Center to study the
environmental problems and issues affecting the marine coastal resources of
Dapitan City and to recommend a management plan for these resources. The study
has begun and is expected to be completed by July 2000. Dapitan City has substantial
coastal and marine resources. On its two offshore islands and two submerged
reef system are coral reefs with high potential for fisheries and tourism.
The present project is concerned with these reefs, the estuarine Liboran River
which is being used for aquaculture, the Dapitan Bay which is a fishing area
, a few coves with potential for aquaculture and a marine reserve with coral
reefs and mangroves. Three problems have so far been identified: fish diseases
caused by a fungus, mangrove disease caused by an isopod, and water quality
of Liboran River.
The center invites undergraduate and graduate biology students
to join the center in solving these problems and other problems that remain
to be identified. It is a challenge for the students to be active in solving
real conservation problems in the field.
Appreciation
For Courtesies Rendered To Dr. Russ And Dr. Alcala
We thank a number of colleagues for making arrangement for our travel
to Camiguin: Dr. Glory Magdale, Regional Director of the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), Region 10, and her staff; Director Conception Regalado of
Mindanao Polytechnic State College and Professors Robert Apugan and Estracio
Genelsa of CPSC.
Progress On Marine Conservation At Mindanao Polytechnic State College (MPSC),
Panaon, Misamis Occidental
C. Regalado, L. Alfeche and R. Lasagas, all of MPSC Panaon, and Gaspar Caylo,
the Chair of the Panaon town Council Environment Committee successfully convinced
the Jimenez town Council to approve a budget for marine conservation and management,
showing that networking can bring good results. Panaon Mayor Miriam L. Paylaga
supports this conservation program. Dr. Alcala is consultant to MPSC. 
