By: Manuel Ferdinand Ramirez de Erio

GOING to Danajon Double Barrier Reef is an experience truly unique in Asia and one of the (only) three being documented in the world. This double barrier reef has captured the news recently to host the ambitious undertaking-- Cebu-Bohol Friendship Highway to connect Cebu and Bohol with an 18 kilometer ‘highway' from Cordova in Mactan Island in Cebu to Getafe in Bohol. Even before the infrastructure milestone to connect two neighboring island provinces was conceived, the Danajon Double Barrier Reef has caught the limelight after being discovered and documented as a very rare geological phenomena; in the Philippines and South Asia . The other two double barrier reefs in the world are found in Australia and Nova Scotia. The most romantic gateway to the Danajon Double Barrier Reef is the island of Banacon in Getafe which is the host of the largest mangrove forest in Southeast Asia . As your boat cascade through the pristine waters of the island, the mangroves that stood like knights in emerald armor lined up to complete an ambiance of a tranquility and romance.

The Danajon Reef is a unique coastal environment within the jurisdiction of 17 coastal municipalities covering four provinces, namely the provinces of Bohol , Leyte , Southern Leyte and Cebu . Throughout the world, there are only very few double barrier reefs that have been documented; thus, making the Danajon Reef even more important to be conserved. This double barrier reef has been formed offshore due to an existing relief pattern off the north coast of Bohol . It is made up of two sets of large coral reefs which formed offshore due to a combination of favorable tidal currents and coral growth on a submarine ridge which was formed in the area which took place over the last 6,000 years. More than a geological wonder, the area in and surrounding the Danajon reef is composed chiefly of several coral reefs, hectares of mangroves and sea grass habitats in shallow and relatively well-protected waters. Thru the years, the reef has been and still is providing livelihood for the coastal communities relying on it chiefly for fishing and subsistence activities, marine culture and sea weed farming. The reef has also provided protection to the Bohol province from typhoons and storms and even provided recreational base for many activities going on in the four provinces.

The Danajon Reef area includes the largest man-made mangrove forest in South East Asia that covered some 1,700 hectares of mangrove located in Banacon Island , Getafe , Bohol . It acts as huge “sea bank” and breeding area for fishes and coral reefs and supplies amounts of young fishes and larvae upon which the four provinces depend. The area is also a habitat of a large population of seahorses as well as numerous other unresearched marine fauna and flora. Four islands in particular, Calituban, Baha-baha, Olango and Tahong-tahong are important feeding and roosting sites of migratory birds. A total count in the area in 1990 found over one thousand migratory birds belonging to over 20 species. Due to rampant illegal fishing, blasting and cyanide fishing and over-harvest of fisheries products, the marine bounty has dramatically decline over the past years. The decline compounded in the 1960s with the aquarium fish trade in the area. The Danajon Double Barrier Reef has experienced the harsh treatment and wanton use of resources of mankind. Thus, seriously threatening the life of the geological wonder which took thousands of years to form.

Responding to the immediate call for conservation, Bohol governor Erico B. Aumentado spearheaded the Danajon Bank Double Barrier Reef Rehabilitation, Protection and Management for Growth Quadrangle. It is a proposed initiative to improve capacity of and collaboration between coast local government units in the double barrier reef area. The program aims to maintain the biodiversity of the double barrier reef which should pave the way to provide food security by ensuring a supply of fish and marine organisms. It also aims to increase potential for ecotourism and serve as model for inter-LGU coordination and promote sharing of lessons in coast resource management between the LGUs and the four provinces. The Danajon Reef is indeed another treasure at hand. Let us make a bold move to protect. And most of all, experience the romance that is truly Danajon!

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