UNDERWATER GRAFFITI Several names are etched onto corals in the waters around Virgin Island in Panglao town, a top diving spot in Bohol, that divers from the private sector, the DENR and the local governments found during an assessment on Aug. 31. —Photo courtesy of Danilo Menorias
TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL, Philippines — Authorities in Bohol have started an investigation into the underwater graffiti found in a coral reef off Virgin Island in Panglao town, one of the province’s top diving spots.
Representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office, the local government of Panglao, and other reef rangers went to the site on Aug. 31, and verified to be true the report posted earlier on social media by dive instructor Danilo “Don-Don” Menorias.
Menorias, founder of Bohol Divers Advocacy Cooperative, said the coral reef in the area was vandalized with such words as “Mojak,” “Min” and several other writings etched on plate corals, which are flat and round with a single mouth in its center.
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“Just like our pets, they (corals) have life. They give us livelihood, medicine, protection from calamity and oxygen,” lamented Monorias in his post.
Info incentive
The discovery of the graffiti prompted Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado to dangle a P50,000 incentive to anyone who could give information about the persons who vandalized the corals.
He said the provincial government would take legal actions against those responsible for the destruction of the coral reefs.
“We should protect and save coral reefs from destruction. Coral reefs support marine species,” he said.
Last year, several corals off Balicasag Island in Bohol were also vandalized, as shown in a video footage by some divers engaging in activities that threatened marine life.
The island-town of Panglao has been among the best areas in the Philippines when it comes to scuba diving and is widely promoted both by the local government and the Department of Tourism.
The reef found off Virgin Island is abundant in marine life and beautiful corals, making it a great spot for free diving.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a US scientific and regulatory agency engaged in among others daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, climate monitoring, fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, has emphasized the value of coral reefs.
“Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation,” NOAA said.
Coral reefs are also a source of food and new medicines. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection, it said.