Environmental groups undergo seminar on reef monitoring

MANILA, Philippines - Environmental groups underwent a workshop on coral reef monitoring processes as part of the preparation for assessment of the full extent of damage brought by the grounding of the US Navy warship in Tubbataha Reef.

Seven representatives from the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) underwent the workshop training on board the Palawan-based WWF research vessel M/Y Navorca.

The workshop conducted by marine monitoring group Reef Check International gave lectures on fish plus invertebrate identification, substrate classification and monitoring methods.

The candidates tested their newfound skills around the reefs of Puerto Princesa Bay in Palawan.

WWF-Philippines Tubbataha Reefs project manager Marivel Dygico said that after five days of juggling field and classroom sessions, all seven candidates were added to the country’s pool of Reef Check-certified eco-divers, able to assess local coral reefs for overall health and damage.

The new diver-researchers are Angelique Songco, Segundo Conales, Noel Bundal from TMO, Gregg Yan, Dylan Melgazo and Darius Cayanan from WWF, and Julius Parcon from PPSRNP.

The workshop was held to prepare Tubbataha researchers for assessment of the damage caused by USS Guardian.

On Jan. 17, the 1,300-ton, 68-meter-long USS Guardian ran aground at Tubbataha Reef’s south atoll, raising concerns about the destruction it would cause to the reef.

Tubbataha, which spans 130,028 hectares, was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1993.

Because of its extensive coral network, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Marine Park in the Sulu Sea has been declared a protected area.

Salvaging operations has started at the site to dismantle the Guardian and remove it from the reef.

The Philippine Coast Guard said salvors yesterday removed the bridge deck of the Guardian.

Palawan Coast Guard District commander Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista said the bridge deck or the control room of the Guardian was dismantled and successfully lifted by crane of the M/T Jascon 25.

“The lifting went well and successful according to plan and without any untoward incident,” Evangelista said.

He said if the good weather would continue to prevail, they would be able to meet with the March 23 deadline of completely removing the ship from the reef. – With Evelyn Macairan