LGU, Holcim, POs ink MOU to fabricate artificial reef domes

By BEVERLY C. PAOYON

MAASIM, Sarangani (August 17, 2013) – At least 4,000 artificial reef domes will be fabricated to serve as breeding ground and aggregating device for marine life along the coasts of this town.

According to the provincial environment and natural resources office (PENRO), with only below 30 percent good coral cover in the province based on a seven-year old assessment, additional domes to augment those already deployed would encourage the growth of marine life and rehabilitation of damaged reefs in Sarangani Bay.

On Thursday (August 15), Mayor Aniceto Lopez Jr. signed a memorandum of understanding with Holcim, the country’s leading cement manufacturer, and Conrado & Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. for this project.

As counterpart, Holcim will provide 2,000 bags of cement worth roughly half a million pesos for the construction of the domes.

It is part of the corporate social responsibility of the company in upholding its commitment in managing resources responsibly and working with communities to develop sustainable options for their future.

The people’s organizations (POs) composed of fisherfolk will fabricate the domes which Alcantara Foundation will pay at P50 each.

However, PENR officer Rolando Tuballes suggested a need to create a management plan to provide a clear guide for fisherfolk in the correct usage of domes and for the local government unit in managing the project to ensure efficiency rather than “worsening the situation.”

Fourteen out of 16 barangays of this town will benefit from this project.

Since 2009, there were already more than 1,000 domes deployed here.

An additional 270 domes that Alcantara Foundation produced in partnership with World Vision will be deployed starting next week with at least 30 to 50 units released per deployment every Friday.

Mayor Lopez disclosed that fish catch in coastal areas in his town has been low but this project dubbed as “Ating Pangalagaan Likas na Yaman” is a long-term scheme to support the rehabilitation of the damage coral reefs. For more news and updates, please visit the <a href= http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/ >Province of Sarangani </a> (Beverly C. Paoyon/ SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)