By Marlon A. Loterte
LEGAZPI CITY, August 5 (PIA) – The Holy Rosary-themed Coral Genesis Project of the JCI Legazpi and Daraga chapters, Albay provincial government and Sto. Domingo municipal government has finally found it place off the coastal waters of Sto. Domingo town following completion of deployment last Saturday, August 3.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said during the launching ceremonies that the joint endeavour has manifested a Public Private Prayer Partnership, a first of its kind, to protect the province’s marine environment, reduce poverty in coastal areas, generate employment as well as expansion of local tourism.
Salceda noted that Albay has always been in the forefront of climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR), and has always been a citadel of Faith.
“Albay will pioneer combining all these three attributes into an environmental sustainable project that sustains food security, since 40 percent of our protein come from pelagic fish and whose maximum catch potential has fallen 60 percent due to climate change, particularly coral bleaching, and overfishing which means we have to regenerate the base for resources needed by future Albayanos,” he furthered.
Salceda added that the Coral Genesis Project is a fitting endeavour to complement the Coastal Resource Agri-Bio System Development Program (CRABS) that aims to protect the livelihood of the province’s fishermen and, at the same time, guard and replenish the local vegetation along the islands that serve as the province’s primary eco-defence against climate change.
He said the province is in the process of training hundreds of certified scuba divers in Albay “who will soon be able to bring tourists to this Coral Rosary site and most importantly expand this type of community- based coral reef protection and coastal poverty alleviation project across our beloved province.
The underwater Coral Genesis Project is themed with the Holy Rosary, that happened to be Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is the patroness of the local parish of Sto. Domingo.
Through the efforts of all our partners, of all of you, this will be the world’s first underwater rosary and pilgrimage site,” said Salceda, a devotee himself of the Virgin Mary.
He, however, reminded Albayanos that the work does not end today.
“We have to continue to protect and expand what we have started. The Holy Rosary-themed coral reef equipped with solar pods we have planted today is a seed project that we have to grow, guard and monitor so it can be a model for coastal poverty alleviation not only in Albay but also in the entire country and beyon,” the governor said.
The project will also be tapping Bicol University-Tabaco Campus, through Dr. Plutumeo Nieves, to pursue studies on this project to see how it positively benefits the local community, especially the fisher folk.
Engr. Martin Reynoso, executive vice president of the JCI Legazpi and project chairman for the Coral Genesis Project, said the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Legazpi and Daraga chapters has initiated the project to augment measures carried out by the local governments to rehabilitate and protect the coral reefs of Albay Gulf.
“For this particular project, innovation is the solution utilizing technology that will help corals grow up to five times faster and resistant to coral bleaching and algae through the coral reefs electrification concept,” asserted Martin.
Reynoso has introduced a concept of another version of the “coral genesis” already employed here and abroad utilizing technology that will help bolster propagation and restoration of coral reefs in Albay Gulf.
“The Holy Rosary-themed Coral Genesis Project was completely deployed in a day, last Saturday, comprised of 60 beads equipped with the same number of solar pods while five for the cross has now been lying 100-120 meters off shore with the depth of 15 to 20 feet underwater and covering some 300 square meters area,” according to Reynoso.
Reynoso said that “coral genesis” uses the technology with a portable micro underwater solar power source, wherein any shape, design, logo, or sculpture can be charged for fast coral reef recovery or even creation of themed sculptures.
He elaborated that that “underwater micro solar electric power” that tickles the corals to grow would require less care as power source is anchored to the sea floor, adding that electric-propagated coral reefs are less prone to algae attacks compared to non-electric propagated ones.
“The concept of “coral genesis” allows corals to be grown on site or grown off site the can be delivered to the reefs site for propagation or restoration,” he said.
Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Aguas, remarked, ”The project is a very welcome development for the town as the novel project will manifest the people’s commitment to environmental protection and care adding the impacts it will give to the tourism industry in this municipality.”
“The project, noted Aguas, will be definitely an added tourist attraction for underwater getaway enthusiasts or divers, or even to ordinary travellers, and such may also become someday a pilgrimage site for Holy Rosary devotion.
Aguas related that underwater getaway enthusiasts and tourists can view or access the new attraction in Sto. Domingo through scuba diving and snorkelling or perhaps with a glass-bottom boat, and in six month time or in year we can expect corals of different species as well as other marine inhabitants to populate the area.
Aguas furthered that he would ask the town council to pass an ordinance that would declare the site of the Holy Rosary-themed Coral Genesis Project a marine sanctuary and a pilgrimage site.
Engr. Yves Yu, president of JCI Legazpi, said the project has manifested anew the organization’s commitment and support to the local governments in Albay in terms of environmental care, tourism development, among others.
“Such also formed part the JCI’s continued and relentless quest for solutions to the unique problems in the society to build a better place to live in and creating impact to communities,” Yu said
Other co-operators who made the project possible were Rev. Fr. Efren Borromeo, a Roman Catholic priest of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity, who is also known a healer priest and staunch advocate of environmental protection; “The Guardians” serving as “Bantay dagat” (ocean defenders); divers of the Naval Forces of Southern Luzon (Navforsol) of the Philippine Navy based here and from Bicol scuba Divers Foundation Incorporated, along with the locales, barangay residents and volunteers. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)
LEGAZPI CITY, August 5 (PIA) – The Holy Rosary-themed Coral Genesis Project of the JCI Legazpi and Daraga chapters, Albay provincial government and Sto. Domingo municipal government has finally found it place off the coastal waters of Sto. Domingo town following completion of deployment last Saturday, August 3.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said during the launching ceremonies that the joint endeavour has manifested a Public Private Prayer Partnership, a first of its kind, to protect the province’s marine environment, reduce poverty in coastal areas, generate employment as well as expansion of local tourism.
Salceda noted that Albay has always been in the forefront of climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR), and has always been a citadel of Faith.
“Albay will pioneer combining all these three attributes into an environmental sustainable project that sustains food security, since 40 percent of our protein come from pelagic fish and whose maximum catch potential has fallen 60 percent due to climate change, particularly coral bleaching, and overfishing which means we have to regenerate the base for resources needed by future Albayanos,” he furthered.
Salceda added that the Coral Genesis Project is a fitting endeavour to complement the Coastal Resource Agri-Bio System Development Program (CRABS) that aims to protect the livelihood of the province’s fishermen and, at the same time, guard and replenish the local vegetation along the islands that serve as the province’s primary eco-defence against climate change.
He said the province is in the process of training hundreds of certified scuba divers in Albay “who will soon be able to bring tourists to this Coral Rosary site and most importantly expand this type of community- based coral reef protection and coastal poverty alleviation project across our beloved province.
The underwater Coral Genesis Project is themed with the Holy Rosary, that happened to be Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is the patroness of the local parish of Sto. Domingo.
Through the efforts of all our partners, of all of you, this will be the world’s first underwater rosary and pilgrimage site,” said Salceda, a devotee himself of the Virgin Mary.
He, however, reminded Albayanos that the work does not end today.
“We have to continue to protect and expand what we have started. The Holy Rosary-themed coral reef equipped with solar pods we have planted today is a seed project that we have to grow, guard and monitor so it can be a model for coastal poverty alleviation not only in Albay but also in the entire country and beyon,” the governor said.
The project will also be tapping Bicol University-Tabaco Campus, through Dr. Plutumeo Nieves, to pursue studies on this project to see how it positively benefits the local community, especially the fisher folk.
Engr. Martin Reynoso, executive vice president of the JCI Legazpi and project chairman for the Coral Genesis Project, said the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Legazpi and Daraga chapters has initiated the project to augment measures carried out by the local governments to rehabilitate and protect the coral reefs of Albay Gulf.
“For this particular project, innovation is the solution utilizing technology that will help corals grow up to five times faster and resistant to coral bleaching and algae through the coral reefs electrification concept,” asserted Martin.
Reynoso has introduced a concept of another version of the “coral genesis” already employed here and abroad utilizing technology that will help bolster propagation and restoration of coral reefs in Albay Gulf.
“The Holy Rosary-themed Coral Genesis Project was completely deployed in a day, last Saturday, comprised of 60 beads equipped with the same number of solar pods while five for the cross has now been lying 100-120 meters off shore with the depth of 15 to 20 feet underwater and covering some 300 square meters area,” according to Reynoso.
Reynoso said that “coral genesis” uses the technology with a portable micro underwater solar power source, wherein any shape, design, logo, or sculpture can be charged for fast coral reef recovery or even creation of themed sculptures.
He elaborated that that “underwater micro solar electric power” that tickles the corals to grow would require less care as power source is anchored to the sea floor, adding that electric-propagated coral reefs are less prone to algae attacks compared to non-electric propagated ones.
“The concept of “coral genesis” allows corals to be grown on site or grown off site the can be delivered to the reefs site for propagation or restoration,” he said.
Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Aguas, remarked, ”The project is a very welcome development for the town as the novel project will manifest the people’s commitment to environmental protection and care adding the impacts it will give to the tourism industry in this municipality.”
“The project, noted Aguas, will be definitely an added tourist attraction for underwater getaway enthusiasts or divers, or even to ordinary travellers, and such may also become someday a pilgrimage site for Holy Rosary devotion.
Aguas related that underwater getaway enthusiasts and tourists can view or access the new attraction in Sto. Domingo through scuba diving and snorkelling or perhaps with a glass-bottom boat, and in six month time or in year we can expect corals of different species as well as other marine inhabitants to populate the area.
Aguas furthered that he would ask the town council to pass an ordinance that would declare the site of the Holy Rosary-themed Coral Genesis Project a marine sanctuary and a pilgrimage site.
Engr. Yves Yu, president of JCI Legazpi, said the project has manifested anew the organization’s commitment and support to the local governments in Albay in terms of environmental care, tourism development, among others.
“Such also formed part the JCI’s continued and relentless quest for solutions to the unique problems in the society to build a better place to live in and creating impact to communities,” Yu said
Other co-operators who made the project possible were Rev. Fr. Efren Borromeo, a Roman Catholic priest of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity, who is also known a healer priest and staunch advocate of environmental protection; “The Guardians” serving as “Bantay dagat” (ocean defenders); divers of the Naval Forces of Southern Luzon (Navforsol) of the Philippine Navy based here and from Bicol scuba Divers Foundation Incorporated, along with the locales, barangay residents and volunteers. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)
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