Mayors renew pledge for Banate Bay protection
Mayors of four municipalities in northern Iloilo province will renew their support to the protection and preservation of Banate Bay by signing a Commitment of Support to the Banate Bay Resource Management Agreement and its Amendments at 2 p.m. today at the Banate Covered Gym.
The signing will be witnessed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., who led the establishment of the Banate Bay Management Resource Council Inc. in 1996.
The four municipalities comprising the BBRMCI are Anilao under Mayor Ma. Teresa Debuque, Banate under Mayor Renerose Caborubias, Barotac Nuevo under Mayor Hernan Biron Sr., and Barotac Viejo under Mayor Niel Tupas III.
Banate Bay has been recognized as one of the richest fishing grounds on Panay Island.
The local government units of Anilao, Banate and Barotac Nuevo, with former Mayor of Anilao Ramon Antiojo at the helm, signed the Banate Bay Resource Management Agreement of 1996 on February 28, 1996 to jointly manage the Bay and meet common area development plans through the BBRMCI. Later, Barotac Viejo was included in the council.
Cited as model in the province of Iloilo, BBRMCI have shown the productive partnership of its four member municipalities in the implementation of coastal management program in the last 14 years.
The local officials of the four municipalities have committed to stand by their convictions and integrity to make informed decisions and a vision that environmental quality, social equity and economics must be embraced in their every decision.
