Philippine Province Prepares to Mark Coral Triangle Day

The Provincial Government and private sector in Cebu Province, Philippines, will join the CTI-CFF in celebrating Coral Triangle Day on June 9.

Local governments across the province and at least four major hotels in Lapu-Lapu City are organizing activities in line with the celebration.

Mr. Isabelo Montejo, Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 7, discussed the activities with Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano, who chairs the Provincial Board’s Committee on Environmental Protection.

“We need to work together to protect and conserve our marine ecosystems by encouraging everyone to join our cause,” said Mr. Montejo. He noted that the Philippines plays a particularly key role in the region because practically all of its national territory lies within the scientific boundaries of the Coral Triangle.

Now in its third year, the CT6 Countries have celebrated June 9 with various events, including children’s workshops, exhibits, beach clean-ups, and ocean parades. The DENR and Provincial Government will hold simultaneous mangrove planting and beach clean-up activities in several municipalities.

The private sector will also participate:

• Shangri-La Mactan – short story writing contest in partnership with the Zoological Society of London.
• Imperial Palace – children’s workshop in partnership with Marie Ernestine School.
• Plantation Bay – ocean-themed film screening as part of “Summer Frolic” activities.
• Crimson Resort – marine-themed exhibit.
• JPark Island Resort & Waterpark Cebu and Crimson Resort – three-day marine mammal rescue training in collaboration with the Cebu Marine Animal Rescue Network.
• Sea Knights – two-day information and educational campaign with fishers and children in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard.

Below is the current list of scheduled activities in Cebu Province for Coral Triangle Day. For more information, contact Astrid Lim at alim@uscti.org.

• April–June – Recurring ocean-themed film screenings at Plantation Bay as part of “Summer Frolic.”
• May 27, 10:00 AM – Agio Forum at the Philippine Information Agency with the Philippine Navy, Fr. Tito Soquino (Santo Niño Augustinian Social Development Foundation), DENR, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
• May 30, 7:00 AM, Cordova – Press Conference and culmination activity for Ocean Month and launch of Coral Triangle Day celebrations.
• June (Month-long) – Large marine mammal rescue training sponsored by Crimson Resort, Imperial Palace, and others.
• June 3 – Early CT Day celebration at Doong Island, Bantayan, organized by Sea Knights.
• June 6 – Day-long program by Pulchra Resort Hotel including beach clean-up, mangrove planting, and environment-themed role-playing contest.
• June 7, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM – Province-wide mangrove planting.
• June 7, 6:00 AM–8:00 AM – Province-wide beach clean-up.
• June 7 – Lapu-Lapu City-wide beach clean-up coordinated by barangay captains.
• June 7 – Reef check organized by Plantation Bay.
• June 7 – Mini exhibit, beach clean-up, and mangrove planting organized by Crimson Resort.
• June 7–8 – IEC activity in Barangay Kinatarkan, Santa Fe, Bantayan Island conducted by Santo Niño Augustinian Social Development Foundation and Sea Knights. June 7 focuses on children (film, games, feeding program); June 8 focuses on fishers (mass and presentations).
• June 8 – Information campaign on the Coral Triangle and marine ecosystems in Santa Fe by the municipal government.
• June 9 – Mangrove planting organized by Plantation Bay.
• June 9 – Convergence of core group partners including Philippine Navy: mass for the environment, presentations, fellowship lunch, mangrove planting, and team-building.
• June 9 – Bottle painting activity by Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary in Santa Fe using plastic bottles collected during previous beach clean-ups. Target participants are children.
• Week of June 21 – Marine-themed exhibit by Crimson Beach Resort.
• June 21–28 – One-week event at JPark Island Resort & Waterpark Cebu: beach clean-up, mangrove planting, exhibit, and children’s workshops (poster making and diorama storytelling).
• June 21 – Coral Triangle exhibit, workshop, and children’s short story contest on seahorse protection by Shangri-La Hotel in partnership with ZSL and The Freeman. Preceded by information campaign and participant pre-selection on June 13.

The municipalities of Bacuag and Gigaquit in Surigao del Norte are also planning a beach clean-up and mangrove planting activity for June 7.

Reporting by Astrid Lim and Gregg M. Rubio, The Freeman (external link).