Coral reefs in Sarangani Bay threatened anew

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is alarmed over renewed threats to the coral reefs in the Sarangani Bay despite a law declaring the marine habitat a protected seascape.

This, after the Sarangani police arrested several people last week while transporting a truckload of corals reportedly taken from the waters of Barangay Tinoto in Maasim town to be delivered to General Santos City.

"What’s worse is the suspects were using a government vehicle (with license plate SHA 364) to transport the endangered corals," said Senior Superintendent Efren Valeriano, Sarangani police director. The city government reportedly owns the vehicle.

Dante Dimerin, BFAR chief for General Santos and Sarangani, said an investigating team inspected the area in the wake of reports that the wife of a town mayor and a city employee were allegedly involved in the illegal gathering of corals.

"This is alarming because the persons involved in the illegal activity are supposed to be role models in protecting our marine resources," Dimerin said.

Former President Fidel Ramos issued an executive order in 1992 declaring the 134-hectare basin of Sarangani Bay as a protected seascape, prohibiting fishermen from catching fish within the municipal waters to allow the rehabilitation of the marine habitat.

Dimerin said concerned government and non-government groups have launched concerted efforts to establish artificial corals in Sarangani Bay.

"While other groups are having a hard time preserving and protecting the marine resources of Sarangani Bay, there are people who violate fishery laws," he said.

Dimerin warned that gathering or collecting corals for display is a criminal activity under Republic Act 8550 or the New Fisheries Code, punishable with a jail term of six months to two years.

"The government prohibits the gathering of corals, except as samples for scientific and laboratory purposes," he said.

Valeriano said they would press charges for violation of the fishery code against the suspects led by Teresa Garay, reportedly a General Santos City employee assigned to the mayor’s Kagandahan Gensan program.

The other suspects were identified as Jesusa Malinis, Fedeliza Aldemil, Leonora Danlag, Sixta Niniofranco, Dahlia Allunar, Corazon Masamayor, Lorabelle Canedo, and Lyngeor Monteveros.