by Rollin Dave M. Elloren

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – As part of its ongoing reactivation campaign to enhance collaboration among Local Government Units (LGUs) and to craft updated development plan for Panguil Bay, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-10 (BFAR-10) continues to lead efforts to revitalize the Panguil Bay Development Council (PBDC), recently holding its second technical workshop in this town.

Held from April 23 to 25, the three-day activity gathered key stakeholders from the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Zamboanga del Sur. Participants included LGU representatives from Baroy, Kapatagan, Kolambugan, Lala, Maigo, Tubod, Bonifacio, Clarin, Ozamiz City, Tangub City, Aurora, and Tambulig, as well as representatives from BFAR Region-9, Mindanao State University at Naawan and Misamis University.

In his opening remarks, BFAR-10 Director Edward Yasay emphasized the need to strengthen the capacities of LGUs by aligning its initiative with the mandates of the Local Government Code (RA 7160) and the Philippine Fisheries Code (RA 8550) as amended by RA 10654, both promote inter-LGU and baywide alliances to safeguard marine resources.

“This is an opportunity for us to pool our resources, talents, and manpower to make Panguil Bay sustainable, developed, and progressive, especially since we have various undertakings and we need to respond and adapt an integrated approach to its development planning,” Yasay said.

Panguil Bay covers approximately 18,000 hectares of water with a 116-kilometer coastline and is bounded by 12 municipalities across three provinces. The PBDC was initially formed in 1988 to address pressing issues affecting the bay’s marine ecosystems. However, due to intermittent activity over the years, BFAR-10 has now stepped in to reinvigorate the council and guide it toward relevance and resilience.

Yasay added that the workshop on crafting the PBDC Development Plan marks the initial step in revitalizing and reactivating the council.

“As with all our initiatives—especially in government—we begin with planning. These plans must be consultative, inclusive, and as comprehensive as possible to address all our needs,” he added.

During the workshop, participants revisited the 1998 Panguil Bay Integrated Area Development Master Plan (PBIADP) framework and engaged in breakout sessions to assess current challenges in key areas of aquaculture, capture fisheries, post-harvest, and habitat. These issues were analyzed based on the three pillars of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM): ecological well-being, good governance, and human well-being.

Moreover, the activity laid the foundation for a broader and more inclusive development plan covering a six-year period. It aims to synchronize local initiatives with the PBIADP framework and serve as a strategic guide for sustainable fisheries development, habitat protection, and community empowerment in the Panguil Bay area.

Finally, the event concluded with the presentation of the initial draft of the updated PBDC Development Plan, followed by an open dialogue session. The outputs will be further refined and finalized through continuous coordination among the expanded Technical Working Group.