MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano on Tuesday, September 19, sounded the alarm over the effects of siltation on the corals around Agutayan Island in Jasaan town, considered one of the best dive sites in Northern Mindanao.
Emano said siltation from mountains flowing into rivers and ending up in the bay is endangering the corals which in turn affect other marine life.
"The problem is ang siltation that is happening sa kabukiran nga kada mag-ulan maanod ang pita unya molubog sa tubig paingon sa dagat gakatabunan ang mga corals (In the mountains that every time it rains, mud goes along with the water and gets washed off to the sea, affecting the corals)," Emano said.
Emano said he hopes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as well as other government agencies and stakeholders such as the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Northern Mindanao, will be able to solve the siltation problem.
"We are affected already of the siltation so we are calling DENR to help us," Emano added.
Emano said he is especially concerned since the Provincial Government is gearing up towards promoting more sites for scuba diving as tourist destinations in the province.
He said Agutayan, with its proximity to Cagayan de Oro and with its rich marine life, is among the province’s prime spots for scuba diving.
Emano said 23 towns and two cities all have potentials for diving sites which would attract diving enthusiasts.
“We have here the best diving spots. Look at Initao down to Laguindingan, Alubijid, El Salvador City to Opol. We jump to Balingasag, Lagonglong, Medina, Talisayan and Ginoog, all these towns have a lot to offer especially scuba diving," Emano said.
The DOT-Northern Mindanao had earlier included scuba diving destinations in the province in their promotion strategies.
Emano said he would also coordinate with military officials to push through with his previous plans to utilize the defunct military assets such as tanks and planes and submerge these to encourage coral growth.
Meanwhile, the capitol is backing Sherlyn Doloriel, the 2016 Miss Cagayan de Oro, in representing Misamis Oriental in the Ms. Scuba Philippines 2017 next month.
Emano said Doloriel already has an edge in the pageant since she is the only licensed scuba diver among other candidates.