PADRE BURGOS, Southern Leyte (PIA) -- The typhoon-damaged coral reefs and other marine resources in the municipal waters and diving sites in this town will be restored, according to Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion of the Office of Civil Defense 8 (OCD-8)

During the OCD 8-led launching of Scubasurero and coastal clean-up drive, together with the Philippine National Police and the local government unit of Padre Burgos, it was observed that the coral reefs were destroyed by typhoon Odette especially those in the shallow areas of the sea.

The said activity was also participated in by the Philippine Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) diving resort owners and some 40 divers led by Regional Director Torrecarion.

Torrecarion said they will surely report their findings to the Department of Tourism and other concerned agencies for appropriate action.

“Definitely we need to do some intervention. We will be recommending some of our findings to the Department of Tourism for their programs. May nakuha naman na video si Major Joaquin (Police Major Alexander Joaquin),” Torrecarion said.

For his part, Brigadier General Banac highlighted the PNP’s advocacy to actively support the recovery efforts in Southern Leyte.

According to him, we should not anymore dwell on the destruction, on what happened in December, but we should highlight now our opportunity for cooperation, collaboration so that we can, once again, revive the tourism here in this part of Southern Leyte and be able to help our residents recover from the devastation.

“This may be a very simple activity for us…the Scubasurero, but this will be a beginning for all of us to really move forward along with our people for a progressive and prosperous municipality of Padre Burgos and the entire Southern Leyte province,” Banac said.

According to Police Major Alexander Joaquin of the Police Regional Office 8 Regional Operations Division, one of the divers, the damaged coral reefs can still be rehabilitated.

“Yes, malaking pag-asa pa especially may mga taong tumutulong during sa clean-up..may clean-up dito sa land at saka doon sa underwater,” he said.

Philip Mcguirre and his Filipino wife, owners of the Sogod Bay Resort, are optimistic that the coral reefs will be back to what it was before and the beauty under the seawaters will be restored if there is a good collaboration between the government and the people.

“And we are also introducing restoration plan, coral restoration plan which we will bring into effect in the next couple of weeks.”

The coral reefs and diving sites in Padre Burgos suffered a lot when Odette hit the province in December 2021. (CBA/PIA-8)