PNP divers volunteer to keep RP as marine biodiversity center

They serve and protect — even underwater, bearing scuba tanks.

Members of the Philippine National Police Scuba Divers Association have responded to a call made by a group of international marine experts to preserve the country’s marine resources and maintain the Philippines’ standing as the "center of marine biodiversity" in the world.

Members of the PNPSDA, composed of uniformed personnel and civilians engaged in diving as a sport, told The STAR in an interview that they are willing to help the Global Marine Species Assessment of the World Conservation Union (GMSAWCU)in conducting further studies on the Philippines’ vast marine resources.

The PNPSDA is also involved in conducting underwater search, rescue and retrieval operations, designed primarily for policemen.

"We are ready to help and do volunteer work for them. We are happy that there are people like them who give their time and effort in preserving the country’s beautiful marine resources," said Ohrlan Garcia, a certified Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certificate holder and founding member of the PNPSDA.

Garcia was referring to Marine biologist and GMSAWCU coordinator Dr. Kent Carpenter, who was quoted in The STAR’s article last week titled "RP chosen center of marine biodiversity."

Garcia’s visions are shared by PNPSDA president and police Chief Inspector Gonzalo Villamor Jr. and Senior Superintendent Leocadio Santiago Jr, chief of the PNP’s Undewater Search, Rescue and Retrieval Operations Group.

Garcia said most of their members, being police personnel, have developed a special concern to the preservation of the country’s vast seas and coastlines.

"Apart from being law enforcers, our members are also involved in manning the country’s beaches and oceans against exploitation. We work on information campaign against exploitation of our seas by local residents and tourists," he said.

Garcia also said the PNPSDA is conducting a two-day clean-up drive along the coastal bays of Batangas on Oct 28 to 29, starting from the Divers’ Sanctuary in San Luis town and moving on to nearby dive resorts.

The activity, dubbed "Dive to Protect and Conserve," coincides with the world’s clean-up month. "The event aims to collect underwater garbage that is gradually destroying our coral reefs," Garcia said.

He said the activity also aims to set up and maintain mooring buoys to discourage the dropping of boat anchors in popular dive sites in the towns of San Luis, Lemery and Anilao along Batangas’ Balayan Bay.

"This practice of dropping anchors, unknown to our many local fishermen, damages fragile coral habitats in these areas," said Garcia, whose sons, Brett and Dale, are also certified PADI diving instructors.

"As scuba divers, we must be on the front lines of protecting our coral reefs," Brett said. "We serve as the underwater world’s ambassadors to the rest of humanity."

"We must also be resource managers in terms of determining the future state of our environment because we see up close the damage wreaked by natural and man-made disasters," he added.

Resort owner Lourdes Lowings, Honda Philippines and many individuals — including Senate President Manuel Villar and PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon, who is also a certified diver — also support this two-day event.

Even before assuming the post of Senate President, Villar was vocal about his concern for the conservation of the country’s natural resources.

He filed Senate Bills 956 and 953, which seek to provide for the protection and conservation of all objects and other underwater cultural heritage in Philippine waters and declaring a national framework for the protection of biodiversity in terrestrial, aquatic and agricultural resources and creating institutional mechanisms for the implementation of these proposed laws.

"Operation Dive to Protect and Conserve" was also made possible through the initial support of Project AWARE foundation, a non-profit organization based in Australia, which sent materials for use during the event, Dale said.