On October 10, 2024, the Local Government Unit of Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, in partnership with JBLFMU, conducted a key meeting to review and update the management plan of the Igang Bay Marine Sanctuary (IBMS). Presided over by Mayor Atty. Paul Vincent Dela Cruz, the session was attended by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), the Technical Working Group, and JBLFMU CES officers.
The CES Coordinator presented findings from recent socio-economic studies on fisherfolk and results from a biophysical assessment, while Ms. Rose Jane Sablon (GENRO) facilitated a Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) assessment. Insights from these studies will guide the five-year management plan update. Plans to issue an Executive Order to establish a renewed Management Board and subcommittees were also discussed.
This collaborative effort advances SDG 14, promoting sustainable marine resource management and coastal conservation.