In a bid to protect and secure the environment as well as the marine resources, the Bacacay Municipal Police Station in Albay has conducted a coral restoration and mangrove reforestation project in Barangay Uson.

In an interview on Tuesday, Maj. Michael Lorilla, Bacacay police chief, said the activity themed “Kaligkasan sa Karagatan” was held on Sunday and participated in by almost a hundred people coming from government agencies, stakeholders, and members of advocacy support groups.

“Through this project, the coastal villagers in Bacacay will have an awareness of how to protect and cultivate the coral reefs,” Lorilla said.

During the event, three Coral Nursery Units (CNU) were installed in Bacacay’s seawaters that will be monitored for three to six months to be replanted later in much deeper areas that need to be restored.

Lorilla said before the activity, a series of lectures to raise awareness on corals and mangroves was conducted to villagers and volunteers by professionals and experts.

“For mangrove reforestation, we were able to go to the areas that needed to be rehabilitated like the sanctuaries in Barangay Cagbulacao and also the different barangays in Cagraray Island,” he said.

Citing the success of the coral restoration project, Lorilla said they are planning to create more CNUs in other coastal barangays in the area.

“So, kung makikita ng mga tao sa barangay kung gaano kahirap magtanim ng corals magkakaroon sila ng idea na tumulong sila kung pano ito protektahan (If the villagers witness how difficult it is to plant corals, they will also learn to protect it),” Lorilla said. (PNA)