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Philippines

PTA comes to the rescue of famed Hundred Islands
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: Rachel Castro-Barawid
Date: 2000-09-27
 
The Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) recently embarked on a massive

environmental rehabilitation of the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) in

Alaminos, Pangasinan, as part of its efforts to promote eco-tourism. The event

coincided with last week's celebration of the National Tourism Week.



PTA general manager Angelito T. Banayo and the University of the Philippines-Marine

Science Institute (UP-MSI) inked an agreement for the implementation of the Phase II

of a Marine Biodiversity Enhancement Program at the HINP through giant clam

mariculture, re-seeding, coral reef rehabilitation and mangrove tree-planting. The

program was conducted at the three most famous islands at the HINP - Governor’s,

Quezon and Children’s. The mangrove planting, on the other hand, was conducted at

the Camantiles island.



The R4 million project is an extension of a Marine Biodiversity Enhancement Program

with the UP-MSI which started last year. Created to improve the environmental status

of HINP, especially its marine bio-diversity, the two-year program aims to increase

productivity of the natural resources and improve the aesthetic and educational

values of the HINP.



Located in Alaminos, Pangasinan, 30 kms. south of Bolinao, the HINP, which is

composed of 121 islands, is the country’s first national park under Presidential

Proclamation 667 in 1940, and then by Presidential Decree 564. However, after

several years, its marine life have been affected by over-exploitation, abuse of

resources from the reefs, and siltation from various rivers flowing into the Lingayen

Gulf have flattened the reefs and made coral communities nearly barren.



The giant clams at the park are now becoming extinct due to illegal fishing practices

like dynamite fishing, poor management practices and unregulated harvesting. Giant

clams are marine bivalves with colorful mantles and with extraordinarily large shells.

These bivalved mollusks like the oysters (talaba) and mussel (tahong) belong to the

Family Tridacnidae. Seven out of the nine existing species are found in Philippine

waters. These giant clams, one group of which is known as the Tridacna Gigas (true

giant clams) live in clear, unpolluted shallow marine waters, often in coral reefs and

sea grass areas.



According to Professor Edgardo D. Gomez, program coordinator from UP-MSI, there is

a local and international market for the clams. He added that there is even a

smuggling trade that contributes to its extinction because clams are prohibited for

export. Clams are harvested for their meat. Gomez said in other countries particularly

in Okinawa, Japan, clams are considered as a delicacy and aphrodisiac. Clam shells, on

the other hand, are converted into garden and household ornaments and items, like

salad bowls, soap dishes, ashtrays and sold as souvenirs. Live giant clams have also

become popular aquarium pets in Europe and the U.S.



This is the reason why the PTA and UP-MSI have undertaken several measures to

save the clams. At present, they have already managed to produce 3,000 new giant

clams through mariculture and are targeting to produce additional 10,000 by 2002.



PTA and UP-MSI are also set to rehabilitate damaged coral reefs with coral

transplantation. With the transplantation, the rehabilitation of the damaged coral

reefs can take place in a short period of time. A survey of the area had already been

done. The established coral transplants will then be continuously monitored, cleaned

and maintained.



Coral reefs offer food, shoreline protection from waves and storm, minerals, medicine

and aesthetic pleasure and recreation. Nearly one-third of all species live in coral

reefs while others depend on them at various stages of their life cycles. At present,

only 25 percent of the 27 sq. kms. of coral reefs in the country are in good condition.

The rest are damaged due to illegal fishing, accidental breakage and siltation.



Banayo also led the UP-MSI team, several scuba divers and even our media group in

planting 10,000 mangrove seedlings on Camantiles island in HINP. All were eager to

help in their own little way.



Mangrove swamp forests are one of the most productive and bio-diverse wetlands on

earth. They are restricted to the tidal mud-flat areas where the water is brackish.

Mangrove species bakawan, tangal, and busain are dominant. Mangroves are vital to

the inhabitants of coastal areas. They are major producers of organic materials;

support estuarine fisheries; recycle nutrients; help reduce water pollution; provide

shelter, refuge and food for many forms of wildlife; help prevent bank erosion; provide

protection from storms; act as visual screens along industrial foreshores; beautify

waterways and serve as nurseries for many economically important commercial and

angling fish species.



Other activities to be undertaken are seaweed propagation and culture, establishment

of demonstration sites for sustainable livelihood and a regular clean-up drive.



Banayo also exerted extra effort in learning to dive just to personally participate in

the “Scubasurero activity”, a coastal clean-up on the waters surrounding the three

islands of the HINP. Banayo and about 100 divers from the Concerned Divers of the

Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were able to gather empty cans,

plastic and other trash from the waters at HINP. However, Banayo said the divers who

were doing the clean-up activity regularly said the amount of garbage they were able

to collect underneath the ocean has become less and less compared to the previous

years.



“That doesn’t mean we have less visitors coming to HINP but simply means visitors are

getting more environmentally aware. And that’s a good sign, ” said Banayo. Similar

clean-up projects are also being replicated in Panglao, Anilao, and Mactan.



The PTA head believes the best thing to do about the HINP is to keep it as it is.

“Don’t build anything concrete. What you have to do really is protect the waters and

the environment here. If there are any structures that have to be built for tourists,

you have to build them in the mainland”, said Banayo. (Next - PTA properties in

Pangasinan)
 

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