Philippine Province Prepares to Mark Coral Triangle Day

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

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

Mr. Isabelo Montejo, Director of the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources 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.

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, Mr. Montejo noted.

“We need to work together to protect and conserve our marine ecosystems by encouraging everyone to join our cause,” Mr. Montejo said.

Now on its third year, the CT6 Countries have been celebrating June 9 with various events, including children’s workshops, exhibits, beach clean-ups and ocean parades.

The DENR and the Provincial Government will hold simultaneous mangrove planting and beach clean-up activities in several municipalities in the province.

The private sector will also be involved: Shangri-la Mactan will sponsor a short story writing contest in partnership with the Zoological Society of London, Imperial Palace will conduct a children’s workshop in partnership with Marie Ernestine School, Plantation Bay will show an ocean-themed film as part of its Summer Frolic activities, and Crimson Resort will hold a marine-themed exhibit.

JPark Island Resort & Waterpark Cebu and Crimson Resort also plan to hold a large marine mammal rescue training for three days in collaboration with the Cebu Marine Animal Rescue Network.

Meanwhile, the Sea Knights, in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard, will hold a two-day information and educational campaign activity with fishers and the children of the islands.

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

• April-June – Recurring showing of an ocean-themed film at Plantation Bay as part of the hotel’s “Summer Frolic” activities.
• May 27, 10:00AM – Agio Forum at the Philippine Information Agency with the Philippine Navy, Fr. Tito Soquino of the Santo Niňo Augustinian Social Development Foundation, DENR and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
• May 30, 7:00AM, Cordova – Press Conference and culmination activity for Ocean Month (May is Month of the Ocean in the Philippines) and launching of Coral Triangle Day celebrations.
• Month of June – Large marine mammal rescue training sponsored by various resorts, including Crimson Resort and Imperial Palace.
• June 3 -- Early celebration of Coral Triangle Day at Doong Island, Bantayan, Cebu organized by Sea Knights.
• June 6 -- Day-long program organized by Pulchra Resort Hotel that includes beach clean-up, mangrove planting and environment-themed "role-playing contest"
• June 7, 11:00AM-12:00PM – Province-wide mangrove planting.
• June 7, 6:00AM-8:00AM – Province-wide beach clean-up.
• June 7 – Lapu-Lapu City-wide Beach Clean-up to be coordinated by the barangay captains (village chiefs) of the city.
• 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 to be conducted by the Santo Niňo Augustinian Social Development Foundation and Sea Knights. June 7 will focus on the children of the islands and include film showing, games and a feeding program. June 8 will focus on the fishers and include a mass and presentations.
• June 8 – Information campaign on the significance of the Coral Triangle and its marine ecosystems, to be conducted in Santa Fe by the Santa Fe municipal government.
• June 9 – Mangrove planting organized by Plantation Bay.
• June 9 – Convergence among core group partners in the Philippine Navy: mass for the environment, presentations, fellowship lunch, mangrove planting and team-building to strengthen partnership.
• June 9 – Bottle painting activity organized by the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary in Sante Fe, Bantayan Island. The bottles used are the plastic bottles collected (more than a sack) during a beach clean-up last month. Target participants are the children in Santa Fe. An artist is being tapped to provide an art workshop for the kids.
• Week of June 21 – Marine-themed exhibit by Crimson Beach Resort.
• June 21-28 – One-week event organized by JPark Island Resort & Waterpark Cebu, including beach clean-up, mangrove planting, exhibit, and children’s workshop (poster making and diorama story telling).
• June 21 – Exhibit on the Coral Triangle, workshop, and children’s short-story writing contest on the protection of seahorses, organized by Shangri-La Hotel in partnership with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and The Freeman. Event will be preceded by an information campaign and pre-selection of participants (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.

With reporting from Astrid Lim and Gregg M. Rubio, The Freeman (external link)