schoolscolleges2020 hed news

By Ria Duana A Roble and Stephen J Pedroza

To remedy the rapid degradation of our marine natural resources in Northern Mindanao, artificial reef domes were deployed in Villanueva portion of the Macajalar Bay on March 16 to encourage the growth of marine life and the rehabilitation of damaged reefs.

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Manila and JCI Macajalar 24K (an all-female chapter based in Cagayan de Oro City) initiated a project dubbed as “Sea of Life” which aims to build environmental awareness against illegal means of fishing such as the use of dynamite, cyanide and poaching, among others.

The two JCI chapters frontlined a deployment of artificial reef domes in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental in partnership with the McKeough Marine Center (MMC) of Xavier University, Scuba de Oro and the local government unit of Villanueva.

The artificial reef domes are a mixture of cement, sand and dead corals. The mission of Sea of Life is to rehabilitate areas where coral growth is possible.

A total of 8 divers, (3 of whom are from MMC namely, Fra-and Timothy Quimpo, Rex Samuel Abao and Jue Alef Lalas) deployed the domes in selected sites of Villanueva.

Among those in attendance were Macajalar Bay Development Alliance (MBDA) program manager Kristine Galarrita, representatives from XU-MMC Friday Atilano and Ria Duana Roble, Villanueva Vice Mayor Edwin Dagasuhan, Villanueva’s municipal agricultural officer Lucila Sabio, municipal administrator Norman Ricacho and municipal agricultural technician on fishery designate Roger Sabalbaro, and some of the officers and members of JCI Manila and JCI Macajalar 24K.

Since its inception in 2008, MBDA targets for an effective bay-wide integrated coastal management through networking and liaison activities to bring together various stakeholders in the maritime corridor in the Macajalar Bay.

The Municipality of Villanueva forms part of the Macajalar Bay-wide alliance. MacBay is a major fishing ground in MisOr in Northern Mindanao and it also serves as a pivotal hub for international and local industries.

However, economic pressures and strong coastal migration have posed a threat to the ecological diversity and stability of the bay.
 
MBDA pushes for a multisectoral development towards marine conservation, provides expertise in bay enforcement, and develops information, education, communication (IEC) activities and materials.

XU-MCC sees the partnerships with non-government organizations and other sectors of society to boost active marine protection and preservation efforts, ensuring a sustainable future for the coastal communities and the Macajalar Bay.