Metro Pacific shores up Bohol’s environment

MANILA, Philippines - Bohol’s road to normalcy and excellence continues as it hosted the award-winning Shore It Up, the country’s longest corporate-backed underwater and coastal environmental program, in the tourist islands of Balicasag, Panglao and Pamilacan.

“Padayon Bohol,” a two-day program, was spearheaded by Metro Pacific Investment Foundation (MPIF) to help rescue, restore and revive the country’s coastal and marine ecosystems.

This year’s major partner is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with its Sustainable Coral Reef Environment Management Program (SCREMP).

Other collaborating government agencies were the Department of Tourism-Central Visayas Region and the provincial government of Bohol.

Shore It Up will help in 34 marine protected areas nationwide and assist in the components of SCREMP on habitat and vulnerability assessment, coral reef rehabilitation and protection and social mobilization and development.

Volunteer divers from the MVP Group of companies led in the conduct of environmental education among school children through the Junior Environmental Scouts (JES) seminar to inculcate concern for Mother Earth through creative art.

MPIC vice president for communications Melody del Rosario said that Bohol was chosen as venue of this year’s Shore It Up to help it fully recover from last October’s destructive earthquake and reclaim its standing as one of the country’s main tourist draws.

Del Rosario noted that this year’s Shore It Up marked a new milestone as a nationwide effort, having been held in Luzon, Mindanao and the Visayas. The event had simultaneous activities in Alaminos City, Pangasinan and Del Carmen in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte.

Since its inception in 2009 after Tropical Storm Ondoy struck, the program has been held in key coastal areas such as Mabini, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Subic Bay Freeport Zone; Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City, Pangasinan; and Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte.

Shore it Up has tapped 70,000 volunteers, and has partnered with 292 local and national government agencies, community organizations, companies, and private entities.

In 2013 alone, it was able to clean a coastline totaling to 328 kilometers and was able to protect some 5,000 hectares of mangroves through its CO2DC project at the Bakhaw Mangrove Forest in Del Carmen in Siargao Island.