From the erection of illegal resorts and houses within the periphery of Chocolate Hills in Bohol months ago, the LGU is now frantically searching for the boatman, tour guide and the divers who vandalized and helped destroy the coral reefs of the Virgin Islands and is also offering P200,000 reward for those who can lead to their arrest.
This, after a video shared by Governor Erico Aris Aumentado showed a diver allegedly in the act of writing something on the table coral.
Aumentado is offering a P200, 000 reward for information that will lead to the identity of the boatman and tourist guide who were with foreign nationals believed to be among those responsible for the vandalism of corals at the Estaca snorkeling site in Virgin Island in Panglao, Bohol.
“Attention my fellow brothers and sisters, whoever recognizes the boatman and the guides, he or she can have 200K reward as informant. Just message me here in this page. Contact this number +63 960 607 7503,” the governor wrote.
The governor posted his advisory together with a video showing the alleged abuse of corals at the Estaca snorkeling site in Virgin Island, a protected area.
He also declared as off limits the Estaca site following the graffiti incident, the Cebu Daily News reported.
The video that lasted for 2 minutes and 21 seconds showed a female foreign tourist swimming without any fins while a man wrote the word “Inyo” on a coral. Towards the end of the video, a female tourist was seen touching a fish.
Meanwhile, Panglao Mayor Edgardo Arcay issued Executive Order No. 45 on September 2 to order the temporary closure of the Estaca snorkeling site, which prohibits snorkeling and diving in the area until further notice.
“Severe damage was done on the said corals and there is a need for it to regenerate and the affected marine biodiversity be given a chance to regain its footing,” read part of Arcay’s EO.
Last September 1, Aumentado also posted his frustration at the vandalism of corals in the Virgin Island Protected Seascape.
He called a meeting with stakeholders and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO), Panglao MENRO, PNP Maritime Group and the Philippine Coast Guard among others to also discuss the matter, the CDN said.
He also invited dive master Danila Minorias and other provincial officials to hear their recommendations on the issue, where the unanimous recommendation was raised to close Estaca to give time for the seascape to rehabilitate.
He added that it is also time to draft laws that would strengthen the implementation of the E-NIPAS Law because the Virgin Island is a protected landscape.
Aumentado said that he intended to create a task force that would monitor activities in Virgin Island that had been known for its beautiful sandbar that emerges during low tide and its snorkeling and dive spots.
“The controversy in Captain’s Peak (Chocolate Hills) is already enough so that those who do not care will be woken and realize how important our protected areas are. I will not allow that my initiatives and implementation to protect nature since the start of our service will be for naught because of naughty people in the community. We need to be proactive and work together so that we can preserve until the next generation our UNESCO Global Geopark Regenerative Island in the Province of Bohol,” the governor added.
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Photo: PDI