December 12, 2005

Reef Check Trains Region’s Youth Leaders (Cebu Sun Star, Dec. 2005)

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Development of ecotourism-livelihood skills for Region 7 youth leaders through Reef Check was conducted last Sept. 28-30 at the University of San Carlos (USC) Marine Station in Maribago, Lapu-Lapu City.

The training was participated in by 10 selected youth leaders. They were taught on the current initiatives done by the government on ecotourism activities around the region. It was presented by Angeli Lapingcao of the Department of Tourism.

Dr. Filipina B. Sotto, professor of the USC Marine Biology Department, presented a short course on Marine Biology for Non-Biologist for the participants to appreciate the different marine ecosystems and how these intertwine with each other and affect humans.

Reef Check Protocol was also introduced to gain insights on how to monitor coral reefs and how to use these results as a management tool for conservation. It was presented by Myrtle Arias and Mario Marababol of Reef Check. Saira Penaranda, representative of the National Youth Commission (NYC), presented the youth situation of the country and how the youth influence the society.

Participants were brought to the Gilutungan Marine Sanctuary in Cordova, Cebu to do an actual reef check survey and met sanctuary project director Timoteo “Tuti” Menguito.

The training was sponsored by the PLDT Foundation through NYC. It was co-sponsored by ScubaWorld Inc., Department of Labor and Employment 7 and the USC Marine Biology Department.