6 Cebu resorts support initiatives to protect marine biodiversity

CEBU, Philippines - Six resort and water park owners in Lapulapu City have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 supporting a public awareness campaign and conservation measures for the coral triangle initiatives.

Isabelo Montejo, DENR-7 executive director, said that this MOU is a collective indication that our resort and park owners in Cebu are supportive to increasing the level of awareness on marine conservation and protection efforts.

 â€œIt should be known that around 75 percent of all known coral species, 6,000 species of reef fish, 3,000 species of marine fish, and at least 27 species of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales are cuddled up in the coral reef,” Montejo said in a statement.

Signing with Montejo were BE Resort general manager Garry Garcia,  Plantation Bay Sports and Recreation manager Katherine Ann Rosas, Lapu-Lapu City Marine Sports and Boat Owners Association president Emeterio Bonghanoy, Crimson assistant human resource manager Mary Joy Ruiz, Shangrila Sports and Recreation director Giles Leonard, and Imperial Palace Human Resource manager Nicanor Cabatas.

Montejo said that the Philippines is among the six countries in the world where the coral triangle is located and serve as the cradle and life support system of the Earth’s coral reef diversity.

The other countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.

Also, 51 of the world’s 70 mangrove species, and 23 of the world’s 50 species of sea grass are nourished on the said reef.

 Montejo stressed that the reefs provide food security and employment to more than 120 million coastal people and feed millions more.

“It also acts as buffer to coastal communities,” he added.

 Montejo said that highly destructive techniques such as dynamite and cyanide fishing and overfishing are some of the challenges or threats that may have an impact on food security if these things will not be stopped.  (FREEMAN)