An artificial  reef will soon be installed in the damaged Marine Protected Area in Barangay Maayong-tubig, Dauin, Negros Oriental that was accidentally hit by cargo vessel M/V Lorcon Davao  of Lorenzo Shipping Lines on June 18.

Vice Mayor Rodrigo Alanano said the manager of Lorenzo Shipping, Rene Renacia, has presented a proposal to put up an artificial reef in the damaged area of the sanctuary using their used container van.

The shipping company had admitted that their vessel had committed a grave violation for entering a marine protected zone.

The manager of Atlantis Beach Resort, Biggs Eggert, made a design on how to place the container van underwater so the soft and hard corals will slowly grow, provided it is properly installed.

Eggert said both sides of the container van must be open to provide the fish enough space to move and free flow of the water. The other part of the container van will be placed with a window so the sunlight can penetrate as this is essential for the corals to grow. 

The design of Eggert will need at least eight container vans since it is made like the successful artificial reef in other countries. They also requested for 100 fiber glass floating marker and 1,200 meters of rope for the marker floating marker.

Alanano said he has asked for the opinion of Community and Environment and Natural Resources Officer Mario Aragon if the container van is suitable for an artificial reef.

He said Aragon told him that container vans are among the approved artificial reefs provided they are properly cleaned of rust and oil that might contaminate the sanctuary.

Alanano said Eggert showed him a video footage of successful artificial reef using shipwrecked in Australia that could be perfectly replicated in Dauin. He also said he is expecting a positive response from Lorenzo Shipping but added that they will file a case with MARINA against the captain of the cargo ship, a certain Gaudencio Morales Sr.  

Lorenzo shipping manager Rene Renacia said the captain and their crew were suspended after the incident.*MA

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