78 trainees pass marine protection, water search training

VIRAC, Catanduanes, May 19 (PIA) -- A total of 78 trainees have passed the Marine Environmental Protection (MAREP) and Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) training spearheaded by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) from April 16 to 20 at Twin Rock Beach Resort here.

The five-day training was a collaborative effort of PDRRMC, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (MDRRMCs), Barangay Development Councils (BDC) and with the cooperation of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Bicol.

The activity is pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) inked by the provincial government of Catanduanes and the PCG.

It aims to cascade the water safety programs at the barangay level to empower the local constituents in minimizing the loss of lives of marginal fishermen and fishing implements during inclement weather at sea.

It also seeks to establish WASAR teams at the barangay levels to empower them in responding to emergency and first-hand rescue services.

This was the second WASAR training conducted in the province. The first was conducted last November 21-25, 2011 wherein 57 participants from five municipalities passed the training.

One component of the WASAR is the need to ensure the seawater from oil spill or any forms of contaminants and toxic substances which may endanger the marine’s flora and fauna. Thus, to institute preparedness and enhance the emergency response capabilities of the local folks, MAREP training was also conducted.

This will bridge the gap of the spill’s early containment while proper authorities mandated to disperse or intoxicate the area are still on transit. (MAL/EAB-PIA5 Catanduanes)


Masbate marine sanctuary emerging tourist haven in Bicol

By Marlon A. Loterte

 LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, May 19 (PIA) -- Bontod reef in Masbate City is fast becoming an eco-tourism destination in Bicol being a marine sanctuary and second most resilient reefs in the Central Philippines, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol said.

DENR regional director Joselin Marcus Fragada said sprucing up the Bontod reefs has made the marine sanctuary a showcase of resiliency by exhibiting its ability to recover and return to its desirable state from ecological ruins.

Fragada, quoting a study from group of marine scientists, that the Bontod reef ranked second in terms of resiliency from among the 18 reefs assessed in the Central Philippines.

Bontod reef is located in the Masbate Pass, southwestern coasts of the Bicol Peninsula.

The Bontod Marine Sanctuary is located at the western portion of Barangay Nursery, Masbate City. It is a shoal with an approximate depth of 10 meters and the gradual slope of up to 30 feet, occupying 52 hectares of core zone and 100 hectares of buffer zone.

A variety of marine life forms inhabit the sanctuary including hard and soft corals, target species such as coral breams, parrot fish, snappers, goat fish, among others and green sea turtle.

Tito Velza, Masbate City Coastal Resource Management Chief, said Bontod marine reserve was cited by the study for three reasons, these are: the thriving of Conch Shells locally known as “Budyong,” a widely acknowledged predator of crown of thorns sea stars that thrives on coral reefs.

As a marine sanctuary, it has strictly enforced a no-fishing order where it protected the area from fishing activities for the past five years, which led to the abundant presence of parrot fishes and surgeon fishes that fed on brown algae. The protection measure also produced brown algae or “Sargassum” that lives in coral cover.

The reefs’ proximity to deep water in Masbate Pass, and declared as a protected area, makes it a deterrent to growing fishing activities commonly occurring in shallow municipal water.

In the context of local fisheries and how it is affected by disturbances the extent by which we can anticipate fisheries decline and therefore prepare for what lies ahead is largely hinged on the resilience of its coral reefs.

Masbate City mayor Socrates Tuason fully supporting the Bontod Reef protection, acknowledged the ecotourism based livelihood assistance extended by the DENR Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project (ICRMP).

Fragada said the livelihood assistance would support the communities that were once dependent on the Bontod Marine Reserve for their sustenance.

To carry out the Bontod Marine Sanctuary ecotourism based livelihood enterprise, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was recently signed by the DENR, the city government and the Samahang Mangingisda ng Puro-Sinalikway (SAMAPUSI).

The ecotourism-based livelihood enterprise would offer travel packages that suit the budget and the needs of both local and international tourists. Part of the tour packages are activities like swimming, snorkeling, boating, and a trek into the mangrove forest.

It will also showcase the reef adventure which will enable tourists to enjoy viewing the thriving helmet shells in their natural habitat. (MAL-PIA5 Albay)