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| (Image Source: Adobo Magazine) |
Around 750 kilograms of garbage containing plastic bottles, plastic bags, styrofoams and aluminum snack packagings were collected in a coastal clean-up spearheaded by local government officials, marine biology experts, and tourism stakeholders in partnership with AirAsia Philippines and over 300 volunteers from different walks of life at the three-kilometer stretch of the Doljo Beach and Mangrove area in the western part of the island of Panglao in the province of Bohol. All looking forward to a "better normal", volunteers from various hotels, restaurants, diving schools and various civic organizations as well as celebrities held their garbage bags and happily joined the coastal clean-up while also observing strict health and safety protocols. The amount of garbage collected during the three-hour activity only showed that there is still more to do if we can protect the environment.
A total of 35 artificial coral beds that cover 560 square meters of the Doljo Marine Sanctuary were also planted with live and recently grown corals. Two hundred dive-volunteers have transferred the corals to different coral beds at the said sanctuary. They have also cleared the beds of Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish, which is the prime cause of coral loss. The activity which lasted for two hours successfully relocated recovering corals to their new beds. Once mature enough, the corals will be transferred to deeper locations such as Balicasag Island. The two-day environmental conservation activity in Panglao is part of a concerted effort to prepare the tourism haven for a strong rebound once leisure travel is allowed. For AirAsia Philippines, the activity not only underscores the importance of protecting the environment but also sends a strong message of creating sustainable tourism that anyone can enjoy responsibly.
For AirAsia Philippines spokesperson Steve Dailisan, “We at AirAsia are looking at a better normal post pandemic. Having said that, we would like to use our platform to encourage our guests to become responsible travelers. By participating in environmental conservation activities, we would like to emphasize that protecting our environment is now part of a new and better normal. Being responsible extends to your destination. You are not just there to enjoy the sights, but also take an active role in protecting and preserving the environment.” Meanwhile, Department Of Tourism (DOT) Region VII director Shahlimar Hofer Tamano said, “The pandemic has turned travelers into instant nature lovers. We hope their time at home allows them to reflect on what is essential, especially for the environment. Activities such as the coastal clean-up and coral reef rescue creates awareness and curiosity amongst tourists especially now that people would prefer going out and enjoying nature tripping rather than socialize in an enclosed room. This is the right time to engage them and make them responsible travelers."
“We at AirAsia believe that protecting our environment is a year-round activity and not just a monthly celebration. We are #AlwaysREDy to take the initiative and encourage others to do so. It is our shared moral obligation with the local government, hotel and restaurant owners, tour and activity operators and the residents of Bohol to show concern not only to the ocean but to the whole ecosystem for sustainability. In doing so, we hope that we are also able to send a strong message to tourists that Panglao is now tourism ready”, Dailisan added. Panglao is home to some of the best diving sites in the world with Balicasag, Pamilacan, Aloha and Cabilao topping the list. Its local government expressed that it is important to regulate and manage activities in the Doljo Sea to facilitate sustainable growth of the new corals. As soon as these new corals grow, species of fish are assured to be attracted to form new colonies; thus, increasing fish densities and attracting more tourists as well.
