KIAMBA, Saranggani– In 2011, MV Double Prosperity, a Panamanian-registered vessel carrying 65,000 metric tons of coal en route to India from Australia ran aground Bakud Reef off the coast of Kiamba town in Sarangani province in Southern Philippines.
The ship grounding massively damaged some 2,844 square meters of precious coral reefs inhabited by 145 species belonging to 29 families of reef fishes. It also damaged the endangered Mameng or Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulates), a highly valued fish in the luxury live reef fish trade.
The damage, which normally would take 20 years to recover, prompted Saranggani to file a claim of PhP20M for indemnification of the said damage. It also sought the help of concerned agencies.
In response to the request of the municipal local government unit (LGU) of Kiamba, a team from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently visited Saranggani to discuss the coral restoration technologies that can be applied in Bacud Reef.
The team was composed of Ms. Virna G. Salac, Planning Officer III and Ms. Audrey O. Lapitan, Senior SRS of the Technology Transfer and Promotion Division, PCAARRD.
Joining the team were Dr. Concepcion Portugal, Dean of the College of Fisheries of the Mindanao State University and Mr. John Hitalia of the General Santos City Environment and Natural Resources Office.
The team briefed Mr. Carmelo M. Velasco, Municipal Planning Officer and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Kiamba, about the proposed project, particularly on the use of the coral reef transplantation technology. The technology has been fine-tuned and field tested by Filipino veterans on Coral Restoration Program.
Per proposal, PCAARRD, through the experts from the University of San Carlos, will train selected residents from Kiamba as divers to enable them to do the transplantation.
Other organizations and institutions like the Confédération Mondiale Des Activités Subaquatiques (World Confederation of Underwater Activities), the Philippine Association on Underwater Activities, the Mindanao State University - Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography, and Sangkalikasan Planters Corporation will also help in the conduct of the trainings.
The municipal LGU of Kiamba, as PCAARRD’s counterpart, on the other hand, will provide volunteer divers and the necessary logistics such as compressors, boats, dive gears and other supplies.
As part of its tasks, Kiamba shall also protect and sustain adopted coral restoration and nursery areas; issue the appropriate municipal laws and ordinances; and provide security measures during the coral restoration activities; among other responsibilities.
Coral restoration efforts in the area also involves the Philippine National Police Maritime Group which will also be capacitated to undertake coral restoration.
The joint effort is expected to yield positive results in six months.
In a separate meeting, Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao expressed interest and support about the proposed project.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the project will be forged among DOST-PCAARRD, Office of Representative Pacquiao, Mindanao State University, and LGU-Kiamba.