After close to three years of monitoring a coral reef adjacent to a marine protected area (MPA) in Larena, Siquijor by scientists from the Coastal Conservation & Education Foundation, and the Silliman University Institute of Environmental & Marine Sciences, the Sangguniang Bayan of Larena has finally ordered on June 4 the temporary closure of the pier in barangay Nonoc.
The Municipal Council of Larena also asked the Department of Environment & Natural Resources and the Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources in Siquior province to verify the coral damage report submitted as early as 2017.
According to Dr. Aileen Maypa, marine research and development adviser of the Cebu-based CCEF, the coral patterns suggest damage from anchor dropping, boat docking maneuvers, and siltation.
Fishers in the area reported to the scientists how they could hear “cracking sounds” as corals break apart after getting hit by the anchor.
Rudulfo Aparri, OIC at BFAR-Siquijor province, confirmed they received an order from their national and regional offices to investigate the coral reef damage in Nonoc.
As early as 2017, the Coastal Conservation & Education Foundation, the Silliman IEMS, and Siquijor’s Provincial Monitoring Team (ProMoTe) had documented a 0.4- hectare damage of coral reef in a fishing area adjacent to the Nonoc marine sanctuary.
Dr. Maypa and team reported a 50 percent decline in live hard coral cover, estimated from a baseline survey done in the previous years.
She said the coral reef damage was reported to the Nonoc Barangay Council and the Sangguniang Bayan of Larena, with the Coastal Resource Management section of the Siquijor Office of the Provincial Agriculturist through a series of feedback and committee hearings with the LGU.
No action to mitigate nor halt coral damage activities came out from the reports.
Dr. Maypa said that coral reefs is a major marine ecosystem on which millions of Filipinos depend for food and livelihood.
By January this year, CCEF Project ISDA (Isda Siguru-on Damgong makab-ot pinaagi sa Alyansa), supported by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, the Australia-based Unico Conservation Foundation, SU-IEMS, and Siquijor’s ProMote reassessed the same area, and documented that the coral damage in Nonoc had expanded more than three times to 1.3 hectares.
The assessment was conducted together with the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard.
The report was submitted to the office of Gov. Zaldy Villa as early as 2017.
After more than two years of reporting and getting no feedback, CCEF sought the advice of environmental lawyers from OCEANA Philippines, the Environmental Legal Assistance Center Inc., and Philippine Earth Justice Center, and in March forwarded the reports to the Office of the President.
By April 3, Malacanang ordered the office of DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu to act on the matter, prompting the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Siquijor Province to invite CCEF to one of its sessions that month, and to call the municipal government of Larena for a hearing.
A 2014 report by the Asian Development Bank listed the Philippine coral reef area at 26,000 kilometers, yielding as much as 429,000 tons of fish annually.
Coral reef ecotourism (like scuba diving) is also a major source of income for many coastal communities and tour operators.
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