6T to join Lapu cleanup on Coral Day
Most of the participants are beneficiaries of government’s poverty alleviation program
MORE than 6,000 persons are expected to join the coastal and underwater cleanup in Lapu-Lapu City on June 9.
Most of the participants are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P), said Lapu-Lapu Police Community Relations officer SPO4 Rodito Viovicente, who is also a Task Force Kalikasan member.
The cleanup will be held in 13 barangays. Participants will converge in Barangays Ibo, Buaya, Mactan, Punta Engaño, Pusok, Pajo, Looc, Marigondon and Maribago.
The activity is Lapu- Lapu City's way of celebrating Coral Triangle Day, which is being observed by Mindoro Occidental; Cortes in Surigao del Sur; TawiTawi; Ubay in Bohol province; Batangas; Surigao del Norte; and San Francisco in Camotes Island.
The Coral Triangle covers 647 million hectares of land and sea found in several countries in the Pacific, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
The area is known for its rich and diverse marine life, and is considered the spawning ground and migratory route for commer- cially viable open ocean species like tuna.
The triangle is considered the center of marine life because it is home to 76 percent of the world's coral species and 37 percent of the reef fish species.
It is the habitat of whales, dolphins, rays, sharks and marine turtles.
In a separate interview, marine biologist Mario Marababol said Lapu-Lapu City was chosen because of its development plan, which designates an area to be developed for ecotourism.
He said the cleanup will involve resorts and dive shops.