Environmental campaign tour: Greenpeace team visits Apo Island, Dumaguete

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — The M/Y Esperanza, a ship operated by global environmental organization Greenpeace, will be visiting Negros Oriental for four days, starting today, to lobby for support in saving the ocean from its current state of crisis and address other environmental issues.

The visit, specifically to the world famous dive destination Apo Island of Dauin town and the capital city of Dumaguete, is part of Greenpeace's Ocean Defender Tour, according to Virginia Benosa Llorin, media campaigner of Greenpeace-Philippines.

The Dumaguete Leg of the tour, from July 9 to 14, will focus on the climate change impacts on the marine ecosystems particularly the coral reefs, Llorin said.

Greenpeace will join Silliman University and Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF) in conducting a reef check in Apo Island, The ship and its crew will be greeted with a flotilla, drums and the SU Band to be followed by a short program with community officials and other stakeholders.

On land, a separate team will gather human interest stories that Greenpeace Oceans campaign will share to will help communicate the need for people to help save the seas, Llorin said.

A press conference will be held on board M/Y Esperanza, which will be staying in the waters off Apo Island for three days for activities that include a reef check and documentation of human interest stories on July 10 and buoy deployment around the island on July 11.

The ship will then depart for Dumaguete City where another press conference on climate change and Apo Island Reef Check documentation will be held at the city port on July 12, coupled with a forum on various environmental concerns and issues at the SU.

The public will be given the chance to tour the Greenpeace vessel on June 13 and 14, with activities such as artists' mural making, kids' activity and a photo booth. The ship will then sail off Dumaguete for Bicol for its 2nd leg of the tour (July 15 to 20) and for its 3rd leg at Manila Bay (July 21 to 29). (FREEMAN)