23/11/2022
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๐๐๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ก ๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ ๐ช๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฅ!
The municipality of Caluya, Antique will take home Php 30 million worth of fisheries livelihood projects after being hailed as Grand Winner of the 2021 Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) today, November 22, 2022 at Luxent Hotel, Quezon City.
Boasting some of the countryโs richest ecosystems characterized by extensive coral reefs, seagrass beds and beaches, Caluya bested four other local government unit (LGU) national finalists. The municipalities of Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte came in second and Sagnay in Camarines Sur came in third, receiving P18 million and P10 million in fisheries livelihood programs, respectively. Balanga, Bataan, and Cantillan, Surigao del Sur were awarded as runner-ups.
The MMK is a national search for the country's best coastal municipalities, honoring their outstanding initiatives and successes in coastal and fisheries resource management and documenting best practices and strategies. The following criteria were used to evaluate coastal communities: (1) no illegal fishing; (2) observance of closed fishing season; (3) declared Marine Protected Areas; (4) clean, coastal waters without any garbage or industrial effluence flowing to the sea; and (5) effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program.
Caluya is the only island municipality in Province of Antique. It has a total land area of 132.13 km2 bounded by rocky shorelines. The municipality is composed of 19 coastal barangays. Its coastline measures 18.5 km and covers an area of 35,657 hectares municipal waters.
The town is also home of the giant coconut crab locally known as โTatusโ, thus naming the annual festival of the Municipality the Tatusan Festival.
Aside from mining, farming, fishing and copra production, Caluya is the number 1 producer of Seaweeds in the region. In 2020, the municipality has posted a total production of 82,000 MT. Seaweed area covers a total of 1,800 hectares and a potential area of about 300 hectares.
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