DOT Promote Eastern Visayas Dive Sites and Marine Life Protection

"The Department of Tourism in Eastern Visayas continues its program in promoting top dive sites in the region, where dive sites in Southern Leyte have already been validated and assessed by the Philippine Sports Commission on Scuba Diving headed by DOT Sec. Ace Durano," according to DOT Region VIII Director Karina Rosa Tiopes.

Dir. Tiopes said that there are about 21 dive sites in Southern Leyte around Sogod Bay that had been classified as breakthrough destinatio for diving.

The Sogod Bay area near Pader Burgos, Malitbog and Panaoan Island is home to some spectacular coral reefs in the world, with 500 hard coral species which have been recorded in the Philippines. Coral reef provide home for various sea water creatures and species, like sea turtles, pygmy seahorses, whale sharks, large sweet lips, angel fish among others, that interest divers to visit the place.

Dive site identified in Southern Leyte were the Baluarte, Lungsod a-an Marine Protected Area; the Burgos Pier Nite Dive; The Santa Sofia MPA and Tangka'an Cliff MPA south of Padre Burgos; Heaven's Gate located towards Tangka's Point outside of Southern Leyte. Malitbog Southern Leyte's Bonga Bend and the Panaoan Island with its Napantau MPA considered as on the finest wall dives in the Philippines and the Sonok Point where the whale shark can be seen.

"Promotion of the premiere eco-tourism destination is needed to be preserved and it is the responsibility of the local folks, not only by the authority in protecting the marine environment, to maintain its natural beauty free from abuse and destruction,"according to Dir. Tiopes.

This concern was brought by the DOT Director to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Team Leader Arnulfo Viojan on thier discovery that some fishermen had been involved in using cholorx for illegal fishing.

"The use of chlorox as a new and destructive aid for ilegal fishing is more alarming," according to Dir. Tiopes, "simply because they are easily accesible to the unscrupulous individuals who persist in illegal methods of fishing."

Usually chlorox is used for laundry to whitten and to remove stain on clothes. Chlorox, which can be bought at departmnt stores, sari-sari stores and groceries has a new use to fishermen incatching fish, no matter how harmful and destructive it may result to the environemnt.

This new form of illegal fishing is most harmful to the other ocean living creatures including the corals where fishes lay their eggs.

As the government had tightned its campaign on illegal fishing like dynamite fishing and cyanide fishing, fishermen had found a new way in indulging at illegal fishing which made the DENR in coordination with the DOT to conduct strict monitoring for apprehension of fishermen who are involved in such activity.

The country is home of beautiful and unique coral reefs, now being promoted by the DOT as part of its eco-tourism come-ons. Protection and preservation of these beautiful sites should always be in partnership with the local communities and the local government units.