Another coral garden discovered in Maragondon, Cavite

by Marje Pelayo June 21, 2021 Waters of Cavite. MANILA, Philippines — The country has yet another natural treasure discovered in the waters ...

by Marje Pelayo
June 21, 2021

Waters of Cavite.

MANILA, Philippines — The country has yet another natural treasure discovered in the waters of Cavite that is connected to Manila Bay.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and volunteer divers were having a clean up drive, “scubasurero” and seagrass monitoring activity in Barangay Patungan in Cavite when they accidentally discovered another coral garden coinciding with the celebration of World Environment Day.



“Recently lang po last June 5, na-discover din po namin na meron din pong coral garden sa Cove ng Barangay Patungan sa Maragondon,” said Andrea Panganiban of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cavite.

Panganiban said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is currently conducting an assessment on the said coral garden.



On June 15, PENRO Cavite held another “scubasurero” activity in Maragondon and Ternate in Cavite where they installed marker buoys within the area covering the newly discovered coral garden and within the Maragondon Fish Sanctuary.

It can be recalled that on May 17, over 169 square kilometers of coral garden was discovered at the core zone of Ternate Marine Park within the vicinity of Barangay Sapang Uno and Barangay Bucana.



“Ang nangyari po noon, kami po ay nasa project na maglalagay ng marker buoys para palatandaan kung hanggang saan po ang boundary ng ating core zone upang mabigyan ng impormasyon ang ating mga mangingisda na hindi sila pwedeng pumasok doon. Then kasama po natin sa paglalagay ang mga volunteer divers po natin na gusto nilang makatulong sa pagdodokumento ang proseso po ang ating proyekto,” Panganiban said.

“Nung natapos po natin iyon, nag-scout sila sa ilalim ng dagat. At ayun nga po nadiscover na meron pa tayong napakagandang coral garden sa core zone natin,” she added.

The coral garden measures about 20 meters away from the shoreline of Caylabne and approximately 26 meters in depth.

These new discoveries will contribute greatly to the province’s tourism industry.

“Kasi kung io-open po ito as diving site at kung i-offer po ito as a tourist destination ng management board, magkakaroon po ito ng magandang epekto. Malaki pong potensyal ang lugar pag na-open po siya sa turismo. Magkakaroon po ng pagtaas ng pagkita ng mga mamamayan doon aside from that matutulungan po ang ating community ng fisherfolk na kumita na hindi na nila kailangan magextract sa dagat.” Panganiban noted.

“Posible rin na mabawasan ang mga ilegal fishing sa area dahil sila na mismo ang mangangalaga sa lugar dahil iyon ay pinagkakakitaan na nila,” she added.

PENRO Cavite calls on the public to properly manage disposal of waste in their areas to prevent water pollution.

“Sa lahat ng mga mamamayan na nakapaligid po sa Manila Bay, isakatuparan lang po natin ang tamang pagtatapon ng basura dahil ang basura po na nagmumula sa taas yan po ay napupunta sa dagat,” Panganiban said.

“Kahit po mga simpleng pagtatapon ng balat ng candy, malaking katulungan po iyan sa atin na hindi na mapupunta pa sa dagat,” she added reminding the public to observe safety health protocols to fully experience safe and fun travel in the new normal. UNTV