LEGAZPI
CITY, May 8 – Masbate City’s Bontod reef has been showing its “excellent
ability to recover and return to its desirable state following a disturbance”
or its resilience. In Central Philippines in fact, among 18 reefs assessed by a
group of marine scientists comprised of Abner Bucol, Angel Alcala, Jasper Leif
Maypa and Doris Dalanon, Bontod Reef ranked 2nd most resilient while Bugsayon Reef,
both in Masbate Pass, ranked first.
In
the context of local fisheries and how it is affected by disturbances the
extent by which we can anticipate fisheries decline and therefore prepare for
what lies ahead is largely hinged on the resilience of its coral reefs.
Fortunately Masbate City shows it has a fighting chance in the way its Buntod
Marine Reserve, a shoal 10 m deep functions, Tito Velza, chief City Coastal
Resources Management Office declares.
He
cites three reasons: “We have thriving conch shells locally known as budyong, a widely acknowledged predator
of crown of thorns sea star that has feeds on coral reefs”. In as show –and tell manner Mr. Velza showed
four helmet shells freshly obtained from the waters of Buntod reef to prove his
point. Second, strict protection from fishing caused the shift from the area
being heavily covered with brown algae, Sargassum to its live coral cover now at 30-40 percent.
With strict protection done in the last five years, parrotfishes and
surgeonfishes increased and fed on brown algae. Third, is the reefs’ proximity
to deep water in Masbate Pass, a deterrent to growing fishing effort commonly
occurring in shallow municipal water.
The
City Mayor of Masbate, Hon. Socrates Tuason ardently supports the Bontod Reef
protection. In an interview he acknowledges ecotourism –based livelihood
assistance recently extended by the
Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project
( ICRMP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
“in order to support the communities that were once dependent on the Bontod
Marine Reserve for their sustenance”, Mayor Tuason said.
The
reef adventure which will enable tourists to enjoy viewing the thriving helmet
shells in their natural habitat for a minimum fee is a joint venture of the
City Government of Masbate and the people’s organization, Samahang Mangingisda ng Puro-Sinalikway (SAMAPUSI) and is supported
by DENR. The three parties have forged an agreement that stipulates the
management of the Buntod Marine Sanctuary. The Coastal and Marine Management
Division (CMMD) of the DENR, which prepared the business plan of the marine
sanctuary underscored the need for the ecotourism-based livelihood enterprise
that would actively involve the said people’s organization, the City
Government, and national agencies including DENR that lends support to this
venture.
The
proposed ecotourism enterprise will offer travel packages that suit the budget
and the needs of both local and international tourists. Part of the tour
packages are activities like swimming, snorkeling, boating, and a trek into the
mangrove forest.
The
Buntod Marine Sanctuary is located at 12.37142 ○N and 123.65034 ○E
on the western portion of Brgy. Nursery, Masbate City. It is a shoal with an
approximate depth of 10 meters and the gradual slope of up to 30 feet,
occupying 52 hectares (ha) of core zone and 100 ha of buffer zone.
A
variety of marine life forms inhabit the sanctuary including hard and soft
corals, target species (e.g. coral breams, parrotfish, snappers, goat fish,
among others) and green sea turtle. (Ruby Mendones, DENR V/PIA Sorsogon)
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