Baywatching in

Lanuza, Surigao del

Sur

Lanuza is a fourth class municipality in the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines.

According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 11,857 people.

Lanuza is politically subdivided into 13 barangays.

AgsamBocaweBungaGamutonHabagMampiNurciaPakwanSibahayZone I (Pob.)Zone II (Pob.)Zone III (Pob.)Zone IV (Pob.)

Algerico H. Irizari, M.D.,

-Is a local chief executive ofLanuza town, in Surigaodel Sur-his “Lanuza Sagip-KaragatanProgram” (LSKP) stands out for its impacton the environment, the people, theeconomy and the peace and order situation.

Sagip-Karagatan Program

-initiated by the LGU in 1995 when Irizari first sat as mayor, aimed to address the destructionof fish habitats and other coastal resourcescaused by commercial fishing vessels thatengaged in continuous poaching.

Lanuza Marine Park and Sanctuary

-the LGU established this in 1998

- a sanctuary guardhouse kept watch over the waters, with women and women takingtheir turns at day and night duty. The LGU acquired a patrol boat to make the roundsregularly.

From 2000 to 2004, Lanuza participated in capacity development projects initiated by the Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program(LGSP).

Three were cluster-wide projects, specifically for LGUs located within critical ecosystems in the Caraga region.

• the Integration of SIAD (Sustainable Integrated Area Development) Parameters into LGU Alliances

• Community-based Environmental Planning for the Critical Ecosystems in Caraga Region

• the Implementation of the Environmental Management Plan of Lanuza Bay and Operationalization of the Project Management Office.

As an offshoot of the projects, themunicipalities of Carrascal, Cantilan,Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes andTandag organized the Lanuza BayDevelopment Alliance. Mayor Irizari waselected chair of the alliance. With thecoalition formed, the parochial approach tothe management of the bay shifted to a baywide approach. The alliance consequently initiated the delineation of the municipal waters primarily for legal purposes.

LANUZA AS ONE OF THE RECIPIENT OF KAAGAPAY

Lanuza has been a major catalyst towards this direction, simply because it dared tackle a problem that the other towns merely ignored or took for granted as a way of life.

It is this kind of leadership that makes Lanuza a worthy recipient of the Kaagapay Seal of Excellence in Local Governance.This is obviously a case of one LGU inviting other LGUs to join her in a walk toward achieving a goal beneficial to all of them.

The success of the LGU in marine environmental protection did not distract Irizari from equally important municipal concerns.Irizari succeeded in sourcingfunds from Congressman ProsperoA. Pichay, Jr. for infrastructureprojects. From Land Bank, heobtained P12 million for the watersystem.

Tourism, once a potential, became a reality with the LGU hosting the 1st National Surfi ngCompetition. Management of tourist attractions became community-based, with civil society sharing their time and expertise in the management of Magkawa Falls and Green Paradise, the Estuarine and Wetland Park, and the Sanctuary Café.

TODAY! TODAY! TODAY!