Talim Bay Coastal Resources Management Project

       DLSU-Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA), together with Talim bay Coastal Resource Management’s (CBCRM) stakeholders strive to manage areas of  Talim bay declared as Marine Protected Area (MPA) to help restore Talim bay’s biodiversity and mitigate the effect of decreased fish catch. Initiatives like community based-ecotourism has provided alternative income for local fishers in Lumaniag. Regular monitoring of Talim bay’s reef encourage local community action, particularly on efforts that help protect and rehabilitate the bay’s damaged reefs.             

     During its regular reef check activity, the representatives of the local fishers organization or our fishers being trained as local scientists investigate the reef ecosystem processes of their MPA, initially in Sitio KayReyna, Lumaniag and in the long run, include the MPA in Binubusan, both in the Municipality of Lian, Batangas. Trained local fishers observe any increase in fishery production and note presence of a specific marine life / type of fish in the area. This activity basically facilitates the  generation of the necessary baseline information that will help enhance the capacity of  local fishers to monitor their marine ecosystem. 

      DLSU –COSCA also initiated last June 8, 2019 a clean-up activity on the shores of Barangay Lumaniag, Lian, Batangas as one of its contribution to the global initiatives on marine life protection - helping ensure that local waters are free from single-use plastics. The activity which coincides with the the observance of the World Oceans Day was undertaken in collaboration with Pure Oceans, a partner marine conservation social enterprise with a mission to keep our reefs and seas plastic-free. The  clean-up activity  collected a total of 257.5 kilograms of wastes around Talim bay area.  Of these, film plastics weighing 167 kilograms were transported to a Materials Recovery Facility in Mabini, Batangas for upcycling. Single-use plastic wastes were upcycled into school chairs.

     The clean-up activity was participated by volunteers from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Lian, Barangay Council of Lumaniag, Lian Fisherfolks Association, (LFA) Inc., Samahan ng Mandaragat sa Sulok Fisherfolks Association (SAMLOK), Women's Love Rural Improvement Club, SAGIP Kabarangay at Mandaragat, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, COSCA LOVE, DLSU Business Management Society, and DLSU Campus Sustainability Office.

      A report on the reef check monitoring and clean up activity were shared last July 15, 2019 by Ms. Sapugay, COSCA's L-ENVISAGE Coordinator and Mr. Quenamot, Community Coordinator, to the other stakeholders, viz: a) MENRO-Local Government Unit of Lian, Batangas, b) Barangay Council of Binubusan, Lian, Batangas, c) Barangay Council of Lumaniag, Lian, Batangas, d) Reef Check Philippines, e) DLSU-SHORE, f) Homeowner’s Association of Matuod, Brgy. Binubusan, Lian, Batangas, g) LFA and, h) SAMLOK.

      The stakeholders agreed on the following  recommendations to help keep Talim bay's health and maintain its biodiversity: a) Launch a scheme where single-use plastics are sold by the households instead of throwing as trash, b) Establishment of Materials Recovery Facility / System, c) Strengthen Solid Waste Management (SWM) awareness of community, d) Replication of successful SWM practices,  e) regular reef monitoring, f) strengthen implementation of Marine Protected Area/Marine sanctuary ordinances and g) srengthen the Municipal water fisheries law, among others.