Sunday, April 21, 2013

PAF cleans seabed off Batangas

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 21): PAF cleans seabed off Batangas

Aside from defending the country's airspace against aerial intruders, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Sunday played a role in preserving the environment as its commander, Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino G. Dela Cruz, led airmen in an underwater clean-up activity, dubbed "Scubasurero" in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas where they collected dozens of sacks of garbage from the seabed.

Air Force spokesperson Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said the activity was in connection with the coming 66th PAF anniversary with the theme "Malinis na Baybayin Dagat, Kaiga-igayang Kalikasan” which focused on cleaning the seabed and coral reefs to preserve and rehabilitate the threatened marine habitat.

During Sunday's activity Dela Cruz spearheaded the first of three dives off the coast of Barangay Anilao.

Each team of divers spent one hour underwater collecting assorted garbage ranging from plastic bottles to household wastes.

The dive teams were able to collect a 40 sacks of trash from the seabed at the end of their run.

Okol said a simultaneous coastal clean-up was also conducted along the coast of the said barangay by the PAF personnel.

The sea off the coast of Anilao is one of the country’s most popular diving sites. However, uncontrolled waste disposal of tourists and the locals have taken its toll on the coral reef system and the coastline.

"Scubasurero" was launched in partnership with the local government units (LGUs) and agencies (LGAs) along with local diving clubs as part of their social responsibility in promoting a healthy environment and sustainable ecotourism by keeping our oceans free from harmful and unsightly garbage for our future generations.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=518434

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