Solar-lighted coral beads used in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The country’s first underwater solar-powered and coral-beaded rosary was installed in Albay Gulf yesterday.

Dubbed as “Coral Genesis,” the 60 coral beads with attached solar panels, bulbs and a concrete crucifix forming a 65-meter rosary was installed 25 feet deep in the coastal waters of Sto. Domingo town in Albay.

Martin Reynoso, chairman of Jaycees Legazpi chapter which sponsored the project, said the giant coral rosary automatically lights up at night.

It has the capacity to emit low-voltage electricity that helps corals grow five times faster than the normal rate of at least one centimeter a year, Reynoso said.

It can also eliminate coral-killing algae, he added.

“These solar panel-aided, coral-growing beads are exclusively assembled by our group based on the researches we conducted to regenerate corals and fish sanctuaries in Albay and other parts of Bicol,” Reynoso told The STAR.

He expressed hope that the underwater coral rosary would attract tourists to Albay.

Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Aguas said he would ask the town council to pass an ordinance seeking to declare the site of the coral-beaded rosary a marine sanctuary and a pilgrim’s place.

For his part, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the project was a product of Albayanos’ expression of faith, love for the environment and tourism.

“The Coral Genesis is a project where we used faith-based communion, technology and environmental protection to boost tourism, express our faith, improve our natural coastal defenses to storms and tsunamis, and most importantly alleviate coastal poverty,” Salceda said.

He said the provincial government would train at least 1,000 scuba divers to assist tourists expected to visit the site of the coral rosary.

Divers from the Bicol Scuba Divers Foundation Inc., Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard volunteered to install the coral rosary.

Fr. Efren Borromeo, the healing priest from Mary’s Healing Sanctuary in Lidong town, Albay, blessed the coral rosary. – With Celso Amo