SCUBASUREROS DISCOVER THRIVING MARINE LIFE BENEATH THERMA VISAYAS JETTY

At the western coast of Cebu Island, a coastline bordering Toledo City and facing the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, stands the Therma Visayas power plant's jetty that receives Panamax ships carrying fuel for its power generation operations.

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At the western coast of Cebu Island, a coastline bordering Toledo City and facing the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, stands the Therma Visayas power plant's jetty that receives Panamax ships carrying fuel for its power generation operations.

Not far off below the surface, a group of diving enthusiasts called the Scubasureros -composed of marine biologists, Therma Visayas team members, and volunteers have explored submerged coastal areas since 2022, observing the marine ecosystem and eventually leading underwater clean-up efforts in one of the Philippines' most biodiverse marine corridors.

Living up to their name - a portmanteau of the words "scuba diving" and "basurero" or garbage collector - the Scubasureros have done tremendous work in their efforts in the nearby Bato Marine Sanctuary, collecting over two tons of plastic waste previously scattered in its seafloor.

Moving eastward, exploring the area surrounding the Therma Visayas jetty for the first time, the Scubasureros were pleased to find a thriving marine ecosystem underwater despite the passage of bulk carriers and the operations of the power plant.