To boost marine protection and fisheries management
TACLOBAN CITY— Coastal local government units in Eastern Samar have strengthened their joint efforts to protect marine resources and sustain fisheries through the revival and formalization of the Alliance of Seven Municipalities for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (A7 ICZM), during a memorandum of agreement signing held in Guiuan on May 27, 2026.
The alliance is composed of the municipalities of Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes, and Guiuan, which share common fishing grounds that have been increasingly affected by declining fish catch due to overfishing, habitat degradation, illegal fishing practices, the entry of transient fishers, and encroachment of commercial fishing vessels into municipal waters.
The initiative builds on a collaboration started more than two decades ago and led by Guiuan Mayor and A7 Chairperson Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, with the aim of strengthening coastal resource governance, ensuring food security, and improving the livelihoods of fishing communities across the province’s eastern seaboard.
Mayor Gonzales-Kwan underscored the importance of shared responsibility among coastal towns in managing marine resources.
“Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes, and Guiuan share responsibility in protecting our municipal waters,” she said, adding that fishing remains not only an economic activity but a way of life for coastal communities.
The alliance also drew support from the provincial government of Eastern Samar, with Governor Ralph Vincent Evardone expressing commitment to marine conservation efforts and sustainable fisheries management.
The provincial government has pledged an annual financial assistance of P1.5 million to help sustain the alliance’s programs and operations.
As part of ongoing coastal resource protection efforts, more than 30 marine sanctuaries across the seven municipalities are now under active management and protection, in partnership with organizations such as RARE International Philippines and the Guiuan Development Foundation Inc. (GDFI).
The program focuses on strengthening law enforcement against illegal fishing, improving compliance with local fisheries ordinances, and expanding community education on marine conservation and sustainable fishing practices.
Local officials said the renewed alliance seeks to secure stronger institutional and financial support for priority coastal management programs while expanding marine protection initiatives across Eastern Samar’s shared fishing grounds.
The A7 ICZM is expected to enhance inter-municipal cooperation, improve the resilience of coastal ecosystems, and provide long-term benefits to fisherfolk communities dependent on marine resources.
Also in part of the alliance is the Philippine National Police(PNP) and the Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR).
JOEY A. GABIETA
