Rehab efforts ongoing at Pag-asa, Kalayaan amid coral destruction

Rehabilitation efforts at Pag-asa Island and Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) in Palawan are ongoing amid the destruction of coral reefs in the area, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said yesterday.

- — With Michael Punongbayan

In an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel, PCG Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for marine environmental protection Commodore May Marfil said the impact of the coral degradation at KIG is serious.

"It is important for the restoration to assess the area. Once the assessment is done, the coral transplantation will be the next step," Marfil said.

She said the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute helped in the assessment of the extent of damage to the coral reefs.

"At present, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and the Western Philippine University are assisting us," she added.

Marfil noted that aside from the strong waves, the presence of Chinese vessels hampers the rehabilitation efforts.

"But we just continue our work at Philippine Coast Guard," she said.