“Coral Genesis” project to help restore coral reefs in Albay Gulf

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY – The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Legazpi has joined efforts with the government to rehabilitate and protect the coral reefs of Albay Gulf through the “coral genesis” project.

“Innovation is the solution, utilizing technology that will help corals grow up to five times faster and resistant to coral bleaching and algae through the coral reefs electrification concept,” Engr. Martin Reynoso, executive vice president of the JCI Legazpi, said.

Reynoso has introduced a concept of another version of the “coral genesis” already employed here and abroad utilizing technology that will help bolster propagation and restoration of coral reefs in Albay Gulf.

Reynoso said that “coral genesis” uses the technology with a portable micro underwater solar power source, wherein any shape, design, logo, or sculpture can be charged for fast coral reef recovery or even creation of themed sculptures.

He elaborated that that “underwater micro solar electric power” that tickles the corals to grow would require less care as power source is anchored to the sea floor, adding that electric-propagated coral reefs are less prone to algae attacks compared to non-electric propagated ones.

“The concept of “coral genesis” allows corals to be grown on site or grown off site the can be delivered to the reefs site for propagation or restoration,” he said.

“The concept of “coral genesis” will be used in creating bead-like coral reef structures resembling a Holy Rosary that will be deployed underwater on Saturday, August 3,” explained Reynoso.

“Some 60 coral beads and a coral cross will be fabricated made up of concrete, wires, lead conductor, glass jar,” he added.

Previous technologies, according to Reynoso, have shown improved coral growth using coral electrification, however costs have been high due to expensive materials and power source issues.

The project also won 2006 MIT IDEAS competition but was not universally adapted partially because of power source complexity, reliability issues and unfortunately, it had been extremely expensive.

The MIT IDEAS Global Challenge connects students with the passion and talent to improve the world with the experience and resources of the MIT community worldwide and support innovation and entrepreneurship as public service through an annual competition.

The electric-propagated coral works when wires reeled in the concrete beads are negatively charged, they will attract calcium particles that will then build up on the surface and form artificial reefs, but more importantly they will also serve as the base for the coral nodules to attach to the reef.

With proper reef protection and management, corals were observed slowly growing back and very gradually reversing years of damage from pollution, overfishing, crown of thorns infestation, and the use of dynamite and poison.

JCI Legazpi chapter partners with the municipal government of Sto. Domingo to pilot the “coral genesis” project, which is set for deployment next Saturday, August 3, in the municipal coastal waters.

Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Aguas, remarked, ”this is a welcome development for the town as the novel project will manifest the people’s commitment to environmental protection and care adding the impacts it will give to the tourism industry in this municipality.”

Sto. Domingo has a special charm of its own with happy blend of relaxed atmosphere and scenic view that soothes, mesmerizes and delights with towns’ long stretch of black sand beaches that are irresistible especially during summer.

The coastal town has a number of beach resorts from modest to more luxurious ones that have complete bathing facilities, good food, cottages and convention halls which are drawing tourists and visitors.

The underwater “coral genesis” themed on the Holy Rosary, that happened to be Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is the patron of the local parish of Sto. Domingo.

“The project, noted Aguas, will be definitely an added tourist attraction for underwater getaway enthusiasts or divers, or even to ordinary travelers., and such may become someday a pilgrimage site for Holy Rosary devotion.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda meanwhile has cited the “coral genesis” project complementing the measures undertaken by the provincial government for rapid marine assessment survey to check the status of corals in Albay, consequently, come up and implement measures to restore and protect coral reefs in the gulf.

The provincial government, according to Salceda, has also since been pursuing coral gardening program that has developed low-tech, cost-effective systems for growing and transplanting corals to restore degraded reefs here.

“Projects, the likes of the “coral genesis”, would be a significant boost to strategies employed for sustainable management of marine ecosystems with restoration of coral reefs and associated habitats where appropriate,” Salceda said.

The coral reefs propagation and restoration also form part of the tourism development program under the Cagraray, Rapu-Rapu, Batan and San Miguel or CRABS++ area of the provincial government.

Salceda noted that one of the province’s most ardent partnerships with JCI Legazpi, JCI Dawani, and JCI Daraga is on Albay Environmental Protection and Ecological Balance, besides two others on education and tourism.

Rev. Fr. Efren Borromeo, a Roman Catholic priest of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity, who is also known a healer priest and staunch advocate of environmental protection, committed to pitch in for augmentation of budgetary requirement generated from fund raising activities for the completion of the project.

The Philippine Guardians have also donated the Bamboo raft, which can accommodate up to 8 people, that will ferry the components of the structure from shore to the site.

Divers of the Naval Forces of Southern Luzon (Navforsol) of the Philippine Navy based here and from Bicol scuba Divers Foundation Incorporated, along with the locales, barangay residents and volunteers, will help out in the deployment and layout underwater of the themed “coral genesis” project.

Implementers of the “coral genesis” project are also mulling to enlist the project to be the world’s largest underwater coral rosary.