Donors lay artificial reef domes in Sarangani Bay

By Jenny Rose de Guzman

MAASIM, Sarangani (September 29, 2012) – September is International Coastal Cleanup month and the deployment of artificial reef domes was the counterpart of donors, volunteers and the provincial government for the celebration.

For this project, World Vision provided the cost of materials and labor in making the artificial reef structures.

The people’s organization, Tinoto Fisherfolk’s Association, labored for the 300 pieces of artificial reef domes.

World Vision, in partnership with Alcantara Foundation, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Environmental Conservation and Protection Center, barangay officials and the 73rd Infantry Battalion worked together in deploying the artificial reefs at barangay Tinoto.

As of Friday (September 28), there were 29 pieces of newly submerged artificial reef domes at the bay of Sarangani in Tinoto.

“Basically the project will help in the conservation and protection of Sarangani Bay,” said Jean delos Santos, project officer of Alcantara Foundation. This is a main program of the Alcantara Foundation under its environment project.

The 73rd Infantry Battalion led the deployment of the heavy structures from the coast to the bay while divers from PENRO, ECPC, and Lemlunay Resort positioned the artificial reef domes underwater.

Other local government units and the management of Lemlunay Resort provided the diving suits, boat and “balsa”.

There are 271 artificial domes to be deployed yet. For more news and updates, please visit the <a href= http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/ > Province of Sarangani< /a>. (Jenny Rose de Guzman/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)