Choco Hills-like coral reefs to be put up in Panglao

PANGLAO, BOHOL, Philippines – After the life-sized Virgin Mary and Sto. Niño icons placed underwater at the Danajon Double Barrier Reef off Bien-Unido, the seaweed capital town of Bohol, a private firm has started work on putting up the Chocolate Hills-like coral reefs in this premier tourist town.

The Unique Reefs Inc. is now building this artificial coral reefs to be embedded underwater offshore of Barangay Danao in Panglao, in coordination with the Bohol Environment Management Office.

Unique Reefs, through its executive director Danny Brumback, a German national married to a Filipina, is undertaking this community project to rebuild damaged reefs, coupled with complete reef management, for tourists, fisherfolk, marine biologists and dive enthusiasts.

Brumback said the construction of artificial coral reefs is one of the best alternatives necessary “to save the reef dwelling species throughout the world whose natural habitats are threatened due to human impacts by pollution.”

It will also help “control the erosion of beaches, create recreational dive sites and bring back more fish for local fisher folks,” he said, adding that it is a way for enhancing, renovating or building a new habitat for marine species threatened by the loss of natural reefs.

The plan would create eight pieces of 3 x 1.5 m; eight pieces of 6 x 3 m; and one 10 x 5 m for a total of 17 Chocolate Hills-like coral reefs to be spread over an area of 2,500 square meters.

Included in the plan is to replicate a 3-meter tall Tarsier Statue, said Unique Reefs as it is expecting to complete the project in four months.

“We will attach the mesh wire around the hills as well building hiding places for different kinds of fish species made out of materials like PVC, concrete and hollow blocks and connecting the EMG system to the structures and start to attach broken corals found around the area to the hills. All of the materials used are environmental friendly to assure high quality,” said Unique Reefs.

The Choco Hills reefs will help grow or produce coral reefs via “electro-accretion” developed by Prof. Wolf Hilbertz of Galveston, Texas, said the proponent. –(FREEMAN)