Albay’s underwater rosary restored

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Workers yesterday restored the underwater solar-powered rosary that was destroyed by typhoon-generated sea currents in the Albay Gulf in Sto. Domingo, Albay.

The coral-generating rosary beads are now larger and made of materials that can withstand typhoon-triggered currents, according to Martin Reynoso, chief of the Coral Genesis Underwater Rosary project.

“The more than 100 beads are spread out in rosary formation, occupying an area twice the size of a basketball court,” Reynoso told The STAR.

The beads are attached to solar panels and nickel that will help the corals grow faster.

He said they placed the rosary in a portion of the gulf that is not directly hit by strong currents during typhoons.

Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Aguas said the rosary is expected to draw local and foreign tourists.

“We formed a bantay-dagat group that would look after the beads as corals start to grow and attract marine species,” Aguas said.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the provincial government has allotted at least P3 million for the construction of support facilities at the surface of the rosary.

Salceda lauded the JCI-Legazpi for leading the project, which he said would restore marine life in the Albay Gulf.

“This giant rosary shows that the Albayanos and Bicolanos are religious people,” Salceda said.

The first solar-powered, underwater rosary was constructed in 2013. It was destroyed during the onslaught of typhoons Yolanda and Glenda.