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Hundred Islands Reef Rangers group formed
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There’s a new group that is committed to protect the city’s coral reefs.
“We call ourselves the Reef Rangers of Alaminos City," said Garrett E. Feldpausch, a US Peace Corp volunteer, who arrived here late last year to do volunteer works.
“Our group is committed to help Mayor Hernani A. Braganza and the city government in implementing its laudable programs for our marine ecosystem,” he added.
Feldpausch said the Reef Rangers of Alaminos City is primarily working towards the vision of the “BUHAY DAGAT PROGRAM”.
This initiative promotes guided snorkel tours as a means of obtaining a secure and steady income while providing an environmentally friendly activity.
Last December, the city government had chosen a group of individuals from the coastal communities here to receive a 6 days training through the BUHAY DAGAT PROGRAM in an effort to create another livelihood opportunity for the fisherfolk families.
The said program was facilitated by members of the Philippine Department of Tourism.
It includes both classroom instruction and field training intended to provide necessary skills to help create a community based enterprise and support eco-tourism.
The focus of this initiative is primarily on conducting guided snorkel tours in and around the Hundred Islands National Park.
Feldpausch said those who successfully completed the training course immediately pledged to continue their efforts for environmental awareness in the coastal villages.
“And we are here to support the city government’s marine environment conservation, protection and rehabilitation program,” he stressed.
Aside from providing guided snorkel tours, the Reef Rangers is conducting environmental education, habitat monitoring, beach clean-ups and the promotion of eco-friendly tourism.
Providing guided snorkel tours is a new, unique and sustainable activity that will provide continued assistance towards environmental awareness and protection in the Hundred Islands National Park and the city’s territorial waters. (CIO)
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