LINGAYEN – A model coastal resource management project funded by the Royal Netherlands government will be continued by local government units in western Pangasinan.

Mayors and other community leaders of Western Pangasinan as well as the provincial government vowed to continue the CRM project launched in the Lingayen Gulf since 2002 to save their coastal areas from further degradation and man’s abuse.

Mayors Nestor Pulido of Anda, Gabriel Navarro of Bani, Alfonso Celeste of Bolinao and Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City stressed the need of continue with Lingayen Gulf Sagip Project which is soon to be phased out in December this year.

Implemented by the Marine Environment Resource Foundation attached with the U.P. Marine Science Institute, the project was started in December 2002 using an P88 million grant from the Netherlands government.

Susan Lucero, project director of Lingayen Gulf Sagip Project, explained that this is basically a coastal resource management project to help the local government units and other interested stakeholders rehabilitate the Lingayen Gulf and save it for the next generation.

“We help them out (LGUs) and try to co-manage with them coastal resource management technology system,” said Lucero during the opening of the Learning Center of the Lingayen Gulf Sagip Project on Wednesday as part of the celebration of the “Pista’y Dayat”.

Paula Schindeler, second secretary of the Royal Netherlands embassy in Manila, was the guest of honor during the opening of the Learning Center in front of the provincial capitol.

Lucero said they have signed coastal resources management partnership agreements with the LGUs and stakeholders detailing the roles that they play in managing the coastal resources.