Submarine operator asked to spend for coral restoration

CEBU, Philippines - The damaged corals in the sea off Mactan Island needs immediate restoration and the City Government of Lapu-Lapu wants the management of the Cebu Yellow Submarine and Undersea Tours Corporation to shoulder the initial expenses amounting to P250,000.

In yesterday's press conference, Mayor Paz Radaza announced the initial results of an undersea inspection of the site conducted by the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF).

Lawyer Ethelbert Ouano of the City Attorney's Office told reporters that based on the initial findings of CCEF, P250,000 is needed for the immediate restoration of the damaged corals.

Professional divers will be hired to implement the restoration with the support of the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF).

The money will be used for monitoring and restoration of the damaged corals using an epoxy, Ouano said.

Ouano said a formal letter signed by Mayor Radaza will be sent to the management of the Cebu Yellow Submarine and Undersea Tours Corporation which earlier asked for an apology for the damage.

The letter of Jun Kim, general manager of Yellow Submarine, to Mayor Radaza dated May 9, 2013 said the company "preventively suspended the captains" of the submarine. A Japanese diver had taken a video of the vessel hitting a wall of corals at the Kontiki Drop last month.

"We are taking full responsibility and are willing to attend to the damages that may be established to have been caused by the submarine to the corals," Kim told Mayor Radaza.

When the video was posted on You Tube and went viral, local divers and the community raised an uproar that prompted Mayor Radaza to suspend the operation of the Yellow Submarine.

Radaza said the suspension stays until the final results of the investigation are out.

The management of the Yellow Submarine had claimed big losses because of the suspension of its operations. Kim said the Cebu Yellow Submarine company is "willing to take concrete steps" that will help build coral reefs by creating artificial reefs or by creating coral nurseries in coordination with the government and private sector.

The yellow submarine is the first of its kind underwater tourism in the country.

The video "Coral Crusher" was taken last April 18 by Satoshi Toyoda, a technical diver who frequently visits Cebu especially in Lapu-Lapu City. — (FREEMAN)