GTZ completes turn-over of 7 marine park watch towers to LGU recipients in Southern Leyte

By BONG PEDALINO
September 27, 2010

MACROHON, Southern Leyte  –  A structure that would serve as a 24/7 guard house watching the fish sanctuary that straddles two barangasy here, Sta. Cruz and Molopolo, was successfully turned over on Friday from a German government donor, GTZ, to the local government leaders and to the fisherfolks in the area.

Key officials of GTZ in the province, Mary Ann Tercero and Vince Delector, Jr., handed the symbolic key to Macrohon Mayor Fe Edillo, Vice-Mayor Allan Aroy, and the barangay leaders in the area, Allan Montilla and Ike Montilla, of barangays Sta. Cruz and Molopolo, respectively.

It was the last turn-over rites for the seven GTZ-funded watch towers in Southern Leyte, said Delector, GTZ Sr. Coordinator for the Environment Research and Development (EnRD) program.

In a brief chat with PIA shortly before the program started, Delector revealed that the location of the seven watch towers were in the marine fish sanctuaries of Silago, Hiunangan, Hinundayan, Limasawa, Pintuyan, Maasin City, and Macrohon.

The construction of the watch towers, which cost P1 Million each with counterpart funds of at least P100,000 from the recipient LGUs, began in 2008, but it was only in July this year when the scheduled turn-overs started, Delector added.

Maasin City’s watch tower was situated at Hapitan beach in barangay Manhilo, and it was just handed over on Thursday, September 23, the second to the last that was turned over, it was learned.

Provincial Board Member Albert Esclamado represented Gov. Damian Mercado in the ceremonies for the Macrohon turn-over.

In his inspirational message, Board Member Esclamado cited the activity as a landmark event, even as he reminisced the efforts of all those involved in initiating the project, and called on those concerned to sustain efficiency of the four-storey, concrete guard post for the future generations to use and appreciate its value, especially in protecting and preserving the fish sanctuary.

Mary Ann Tercero, GTZ Advisor, stressed that the watch tower can also serve as a learning center for children and as a venue for important gathering and meetings of various sectors, among them women.

For her part, Mayor Edillo said she accepted the challenge of maintaining the structure, saying this will form part of her legacy.