DENR appeals for coral reefs protection, conservation

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office in Eastern Visayas (DENR-8)is calling on residents and local government units mostly in coastal communities here to help protect coral reefs in the region.

DENR-8 Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca told reporters that coral reefs are considered as “rain forests of the seas,” and serve as fish sanctuary and breeding sites. He added that the destruction of coral reefs will have a negative impact in the balance of the marine ecosystem.

Sibbaluca pointed out that the protection of coral reefs also protects the local fishing industry.

He explained that the destruction of coral reefs will greatly affect the fishing industry as it contributes to the decline of fishery production and the population of fish species specially fish that depend on coral reefs. “The destruction of coral reefs will affect the livelihood of people in the coastal areas who depend mostly in fishing,” Sibbaluca stressed.

He said that some of the protection measures are avoiding the illegal activities that destroy coral reefs like dynamite fishing, use of cyanide in fishing, using active fishing gears that destroy coral beds, collection of corals, and other illegal fishing activities that will destroy coral reefs, among others.

Sibbaluca informed reporters that Philippine coral reef ecosystems particularly in the region, provides diverse and valuable functions and services, such as coastal protection, fisheries production, regulation services, and tourism, among others.

“Coral reefs contribute to as much as 70 percent of total fishery production, highly significant to human welfare, particularly to the well-being of millions of Filipinos dependents on the sea for their livelihood,” Sibbaluca said.

The existing Philippine Airforce facilities at the airport will be moved to the 153-hectare Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base.

The PAF has 17 facilities, including a military hospital, standing on a lot owned by MCIAA. These facilities have to be relocated because GMCAC will construct a second passenger terminal or T2 in the first quarter of 2015.

GMR-Megawide said they will abide by the law and lauded MCIAA’s “excellent management of the bidding