Wetlands Caravan:
Tawi-Tawi Economic
and Environment Summit
Venue:
|
Datu Amilbahar Jaafar Convention Center,
Bongao,
Tawi-Tawi |
Date:
|
16 & 17
September 2006 |
Partners: |
Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi |
|
Pagtabangan BaSulTa |
|
USAID Partners |
|
Unilever Philippines |
The First Tawi-Tawi Economic and Environment Summit,
which was held on 16-17 September 2006
at the heart of Morolandia, was
attended by 191 supporters of Coastal Wetlands Caravan.
The summit, with its theme �Bridging Economic and Environment
Goals: Key to Sustainable Development�, had
brought together
representatives of various sectors of the society to discuss and provide inputs
in the development of a provincial environment and economic
development framework that will serve as the developmental
direction of the province of Tawi-Tawi. The lead convenor
of this summit was Professor Filemon G. Romero, former President
of the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands
and the point person of the Coastal Wetlands Caravan in Tawi-Tawi.
The Summit was attended by local prominent
personalities such as Bongao Mayor Hadji Hadji Tiblan Ahaja, Vice Mayor Hadji Kuyoh
Pajiji and Councilors Virginia Gan and Jolly Ahaja, Sitangkai FARMC
Chair Mohammadan Jaafar, Sitangkai Mayor Hasbi Matba,
Vice Mayor Ishmael Salih, Councilors Said Idlasan and Mujibur Durie,
Languyan FARMC Chair Alex Ramos, Languyan Mayor
Nickerson Tan, Vice Mayor Kennedy Muksin, SB Secretary
Arthur Guerzon, Councilor Carl Ca�izares, FARMC Chair
Jioksin Tan
Resolved during the summit were the expansion of membership of the
Provincial Technical Working Group and the setting up of Task
Forces on Environment and Economic Development and
Investment sectors to push forward the agreed process for
the drafting and passage of the provincial environment code
and investment code.
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One of the highlights of the summit was the
signing of the covenant wherein the local government
units, partners and donors signed their commitment
"to care for and nurture the Earth, our
only home, and especially our beloved Tawi-Tawi, and abide
by the intent and spirit of the Tawi-Tawi Provincial
Environment Code, so that we may achieve our common vision
of a healthy environment and sustainable economic
development for the present and future generations of
Tawi-Tawians�. This signing of the manifesto of commitment
was led by Tawi-Tawi Governor Hadji Sadikul A. Sahali
and Vice Governor Jilkasi Usman.
Another highlight of the event was the launching of
the Tawi-Tawi MPA�s in the Municipalities of Bongao,
Panglima Sugala and Simunul for the FISH project and the
municipalities of Mapun, Languyan and Sitangkai for WWF-Philippines.
This signaled the launching of the
Provincial Coastal Resources Management Program as part of
the Provincial Executive and Legislative Agenda. The Coastal
Wetlands Caravan partners in the Municipalities of Sitangkai,
Mapun and Languyan were responsible in assisting the
WWF-CRFC Project in the barangay consultations, demarcation,
delineation and zoning of the marine protected areas,
community hearings, preparation of the draft ordinances and
the eventual passage and implementation.
IEC materials (posters and flyers) on wetlands were displayed and
distributed to the participants to help increase the
participants' awareness on the importance of good wetland management and
the goals and objectives of the Wetlands Caravan. |