Experts urge protection of PHL coral reefs

A Filipina climate change expert urged local government officials and residents here to make an effort in protecting the Philippines' coral reefs.

In an interview, Dr. Rosa Perez, who is also the author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said a lot of Filipinos still do not know the importance of coral reefs.

Because of the global warming, it warms the sea water which causes an effect to the coral reefs. Perez said that at least 25 percent of the country's remaining coral reefs are already damaged.

"The local government including the residents and the fishermen should work hand in hand in coming up with a conscious effort in saving the coral reefs. The local government should also craft policies for the protection of the coral reefs," said Perez.

Coral reefs serve as habitat of many marine species especially fish.

For his part, Jose Rodriguez of the Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative (SPC), said coral reefs in Boracay are slowly being destroyed by the proliferation of the crown of thorns.

"Before, we thought the the problem on crown of thorns will be eradicated if the rainy season comes. However, crown of thorns are more persistent nowadays compared to previous years," he said.

Rodriguez said that among the contributing factors to the proliferation of the crown of thorns were climate change, high nutrient content of nitrogen and from the sewage septic tank as Boracay is entirely made of limestone. I also suspect storm sewage discharge and garbage dump seepage," said Rodriguez.

The SPC together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and several volunteers have committed to manually conduct marine clean up against crown of thorns before the year ends.