Duka Bay cleanup held

The coastal municipality of Medina in Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao recently hosted Shore It Up, a marine ecological program of Metro Pacific Investment Corp. participated in by volunteer scuba divers from the business group.

The center of activity “Duka Reef” was the 30-hectare Marine Protected Area across Duka Bay Resort in Gingoog Bay, a fishery reserve which boasts 2,000 species of fish, 5,000 species of clams, mollusks and crustaceans; 22 whale and dolphin species; over 900 seaweed species and over 400 coral species.

A simultaneous solid waste cleanup along the 7-km stretch covering nine beachfront barangays of Medina was also held, participated in by 2,023 volunteers from government and community organizations. The underwater and coastal cleanup netted 787 kgs of mostly non-biodegradable solid wastes.

“The fight to preserve the environment is easier said than done. It is a life-long quest. In a small way we started protecting our marine biology,” said Medina Mayor Donato Chan.

The twoday program also consisted of the Junior Environmental Scouts (JES), a creative educational component for children to inculcate concern for Mother Earth through creative art, story-telling and interactive activities.

The divers assembled and deployed marker buoys where boats can dock near the reef without dropping anchor, which may damage corals.

Local fishermen will be trained for the Tawike Monitoring Project in recording sightings of whale sharks in Gingoog Bay, which will serve as basis for conservation programs and a possible ecotourism activity.