LOOK: The DENR CALABARZON and CENRO Lipa together with its Green Fins Members - Batangas Community Divers Seal, Inc. as NGO partner of DENR, Peoples Organization, PNP and the Local Government of Mabini, Batangas conducted a Coastal Clean Up and Scubasurero at Balayan Bay, Mabini, Batangas.

A total of 166 kg of wastes and 38 pieces of facemasks were collected by 77 volunteers. Collected wastes will be transported to the Materials Recovery Facility of Mabini then to the Sanitary Landfill of Batangas City for proper disposal.

The activity was held in celebration of the Coral Triangle Day last June 9. According to DENR4A Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria, Mabini is center of the center of marine biodiversity. RED Tamoria shared, "Napakamakahulugan po ang ating activity ngayong araw na ito dahil ito pong Mabini ang puso ng coral triangle na binubuo ng kalipunan ng pinakamalusog at pinakamaraming marine species". Because of this, numerous dive shops could be found in the area. However, RED Tamoria emphasized the roles of the local communities as well as tourists for the preservation of the area. "Subalit habang pinakikinabangan po natin sa pamamagitan ng mga ganitong activity ang ating lugar, diyan naman po pumapasok ang responsibilidad natin na pangalagaan ito para sa mga susunod na salinlahi", he said.

RED Tamoria was also the Regional Director of DENR CALABARZON when Mabini was proclaimed as the center of center of marine biodiversity. Last May 2021, RED Tamoria was again assigned to the Region.

Meanwhile, Atty. Jinky Luistro,  Municipal Administrative Officer of Mabini, Batangas shared that the province is part of the Verde Island Passage where diverse marine species could be found. Atty. Luistro also challenged the people of Mabini for the conservation of their rich marine biodiversity. "People always claim that we are the home of Verde Island Passage but ang tanong ko po ay may ginagawa ba sila at pinaninindigan ito in words and in deed?", she said as she encourages the people to participate in marine conservation initiatives. 

Coral Triangle is one of the three great ecological complexes on the planet, together with the Congo Basin and the Amazon Forest. In Southeast Asia, Philippines is among the 6 member countries of Coral Triangle.