$10,000 to go to rehab of three reefs

CEBU, Philippines - Contrary to reports that the city government is unable to decide what to do with donated funds reportedly meant for other purposes, Talisay City Bernard Odilao has assured the US$10,000 donation of MV Majuro will go straight to the rehabilitation and preservation of the city’s three marine protected areas (MPA).

“Nagsige pa mi og canvass sa presyo sa mga boya ug gamit for the floating guardhouse. After that, maghimo nami og program of works. So, definitely once we have accomplished that the city will release the funds,” Odilao said.

The third-term councilor said the US$10,000 donation will be divided among the Lagundi Reef in barangay Poblacion, Makatol Reef and Pungaton Reef in barangays Pooc and Tanke, respectively.

“Hopefully, this month floaters be can installed on these three reefs, and a floating guardhouse in Lagundi,” he said.

Last month, Odilao said the city-commissioned divers headed by Anthony Nator and Roland Remolino have started cleaning up the almost-abandoned Lagundi Reef, a two-hectare MPA. And temporarily, floaters were installed in this area to prevent anyone from fishing.

The city may not have plans to re-open Lagundi Reef, which was earlier groomed to become a dive destination, to the public, but Odilao said they may get to that once the reef gets fully rehabilitated.

In March 5, 2009, the Chinese cargo vessel MV Majuro ran aground in Lagundi Reef which damaged a wide expanse of the MPA.

After paying a P5,000 fine, as stated in a city ordinance regulating the Lagundi Reef, the shipmaster left the country, with no case filed against him.

Before leaving however, he donated $10,000 for the rehabilitation of the damaged reef. And since then, the reef has become neglected, which has raised allegations that the city government had no plans to use the money to rehabilitate it.

But in October last year Odilao filed a proposed resolution, which was then approved, requesting for the release of the money. - THE FREEMAN