ILOILO CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA) - The implementation of the Guimaras Integrated Coastal Strategy has resulted in greater food production and sufficiency for the island-province.

In the November 25 episode of the Laging Handa Network Briefing hosted by Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, Guimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin said the province has adopted an integrated coastal strategy, as part of its long-term vision of becoming the agri-ecotourism capital of the Western Visayas.

"Two years ago, we did adopt the integrated coastal management for the whole province, which was enacted as law," he said.

Adopted via Resolution No. 160, the Guimaras Coastal Strategy builds on the province's adoption of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) as a key approach towards achieving sustainable development of its coastal and marine areas and resources.

He said that every year the province has been allocating funds for this initiative which is geared towards disaster risk reduction and resiliency, food security and livelihood management, pollution reduction, knowledge management, water use and supply management, and habitat protection and management, among others.

"We have made a plan 'from ridge to reef' in which we understand that our human activities toward economic development are affecting our coastal areas," Gumarin said.

He sadded that with the implementation of the strategy, this has resulted to 110 percent fisheries sufficiency and increasing food production.

"Including the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Guimaras Environment and Natural Resources (GENRO), and other related agencies, we have the partnership to safeguard the environment of the province," he said.

Guimaras was established as one of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) parallel sites for ICM implementation in 2008. (JSC/LTP/PIA6 Iloilo)