- Lanuza is a municipality in Surigao del Sur province, Philippines, with a population of nearly 12,000 people divided across 13 barangays.
- Mayor Algerico Irizari initiated the Lanuza Sagip-Karagatan Program in 1995 to address destruction of coastal resources by commercial fishing, establishing the Lanuza Marine Park and Sanctuary in 1998 with patrols to enforce regulations.
- From 2000-2004, Lanuza participated in environmental projects through the Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Program, leading surrounding municipalities to form the Lanuza Bay Development Alliance to jointly manage the bay's resources.
3. According to the 2010 census, it
has a population of 11,857 people.
Lanuza is politically subdivided
into 13 barangays.
Agsam
Bocawe
Bunga
Gamuton
Habag
Mampi
Nurcia
Pakwan
Sibahay
Zone I (Pob.)
Zone II (Pob.)
Zone III (Pob.)
Zone IV (Pob.)
4. Algerico H. Irizari, M.D.,
-Is a local chief executive of
Lanuza town, in Surigao
del Sur
-his “Lanuza Sagip-Karagatan
Program” (LSKP) stands out for its impact
on the environment, the people, the
economy and the peace and order situation.
5. Sagip-Karagatan Program
-initiated by the LGU in 1995 when
Irizari first sat as mayor, aimed to
address the destruction
of fish habitats and other coastal
resources
caused by commercial fishing vessels
that
engaged in continuous poaching.
6. Lanuza Marine Park
and Sanctuary
-the LGU established this in 1998
- a sanctuary guardhouse kept
watch over the waters, with
women and women taking
their turns at day and night duty.
The LGU acquired a patrol boat to
make the rounds
regularly.
7. 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 o
Lanuza Bay and Operationalization of the Project Manageme
Office.
8. As an offshoot of the projects, the
municipalities of Carrascal, Cantilan,
Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes and
Tandag organized the Lanuza Bay
Development Alliance. Mayor Irizari was
elected chair of the alliance. With the
coalition formed, the parochial approach to
the management of the bay shifted to a
baywide approach. The alliance
consequently initiated the delineation of the
municipal waters primarily for legal
purposes.
9. 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.
10. The success of the LGU in marine
environmental protection did not distract
Irizari from equally important municipal
concerns.
Irizari succeeded in sourcing
funds from Congressman Prospero
A. Pichay, Jr. for infrastructure
projects. From Land Bank, he
obtained P12 million for the water
system.
11. Tourism, once a potential, became a reality with
the LGU hosting the 1st National Surfi ng
Competition. 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.