Thousands to join cleanup in Lapu

More than 6,000 people are expected to participate in the coastal and underwater cleanup in Lapu-Lapu City during the Coral Triangle Day on Sunday.

Beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) compose the majority of the participants, followed by the residents of the city’s 13 barangays, said SPO4 Rodito Viovicente, deputy chief of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) Police Community Relations branch.

Participants will converge in barangay Ibo, Buay, Mactan, Punta Engaño, Pusok, Pajo and Looc for the coastal cleanup, while divers (scubasureros) will proceed to barangays Marigondon and Maribago for the underwater cleanup. A Mass will be officiated by Fr. Tito Soquiño before divers will go underwater.

After the cleanup, the planting of 20,000 mangroves will follow in the afternoon.

The Coral Triangle covers 647 hectares of land and sea within the territories of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

It refers to the roughly triangular shape of marine waters between the Pacific and Indian oceans that has the highest concentration of marine life in the planet.

The Philippines is considered to be the heart of the Coral Triangle.  Eighty percent of corals in the whole world are found in the Philippines.

Mario Marababol, a marine biologist and administrative officer of Ocean Care, said the Coral Triangle Day will be held in Lapu-Lapu City  because the city is a potential area for eco-tourism.

Marababol also said that to really protect and conserve the ecological environment, local government units (LGUs) should be receptive to ecological conservation initiative.

He added that Cebu has non-government organizations that are active in protecting the marine environment but lack support from the LGUs.

He said there should be an “attitude change” among the people to be able to conserve the ecological environment.

The activity is also supported by 17 government agencies, non-government organizations and private companies. /Correspondent Joy Cherry S. Quito