“Supporting the Environment” is one of the areas of focus Rotary Clubs are enjoined to apply their time and resources to; it is actually the 7th, added last year to the original six Areas of Focus. It was added in recognition of the existential importance of environmental matters. One of the aspect of the environment that is most concerning is the situation of our oceans and the damage they have been and are being subjected to. We refer, specifically, to coral reefs, dying or dead, that need rehabilitation and regeneration, a problem many Rotary Clubs are taking notice of and doing something about.
Pres. Peter Manzano, keenly aware of the urgency of the need to move forward on this matter, was in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur with First Ann Pam on February 11 to personally see the progress of a reef buds project put in place by the local government unit some years back, and to speak to the proponents, in the hope of learning valuable lessons about the installation and care of reef buds that he can apply in a similar project he plans to initiate.
Joining Pres. Peter and First Ann Pam in the trip was PP Benjie Tayag of RC Paranaque who, in tandem with an Austrian geoscientist, invented the reef buds technology designed to revive damaged near-shore marine ecosystems.
While there, Pres. Peter scouted around the neighboring towns for appropriate sites for his planned reef buds project which is aimed at rehabilitating moribund coral reefs and revive the local fishing industry, to provide sustainable and gainful employment to the local fisherfolk.
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