TACLOBAN CITY – Mayor Beatriz Tiopes is planning to invite President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor during the launching of the 7 th mariculture zone in Eastern Visayas, the Sta. Rita Mariculture Zone if the president’s schedule allows.

This came out in a planning season between the bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sta. Rita headed by Regional Director Gil A. Adora and Mayor Tiopes, respectively.

The BFAR and Sta. Rita LGU are preparing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to established and jointly manage the Sta. Rita Mariculture Zone, which will be situated at the Samar-side of the San Juanico Strait.

The town has already passed the ordinances and Mayor Tiopes is in the process of inviting President Arroyo to be the special guest during the occasion scheduled this January 2005.

This development came out also with the announcement that the BFAR in Region 8 has launched four mariculture zones in year 2004, making a total of six mariculture zones now operating in Eastern Visayas