Marine specialist Arlyn Vailoces and fellow PENRO official Joseph Libres were invited by the city government to assess the state of the Lagundi Reef, a hectare-wide coral formation located about 15 feet deep off the waters in barangay Poblacion.
Vailoces, after an underwater check, said the reef could become a tourist attraction because of the different marine organisms there. She said coral reefs in Cebu have become depleted because rampant dynamite fishing. She then challenged the city to prioritize the preservation of the reef, which she found to have been spared from severe damage.
She said she saw traces of destruction in some parts of the area but added that she also saw new coral formations that replaced the ones that have been destroyed.
Vailoces then advised Councilor Shirley Belleza, who heads the council's tourism committee, to have the Lagundi Reef closely guarded from dynamite fishing.
"One blow would destroy the whole treasure," she warned.
Belleza's group, along with the PENRO officials and professional divers of the Talisay Swimming and Life-Saving Association, Inc. headed by Anthony "Bong" Nator and Alfie Fernandez, launched the regular feeding of fish yesterday morning. The regular fish-feeding program would allow for regular food at the bay so to prevent fish from hunting for food far from their breeding grounds.
Belleza said she would send her team everyday to feed the fish with stale bread provided by Julies' Bakeshop, which volunteered to help in the program. - Liv G. Campo