Olongapo Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. has tasked Supervising Agriculturist Jhobal Sebarrotin to develop a comprehensive plan of action relative to the continuous monitoring of the artificial reef installed in the deep sea of Barangay Barretto last January 14, 2012.

It can be recalled that Mayor Gordon led divers from the PNP Maritime Command and the Olongapo FARMC in planting the concrete reef.

Built entirely of cement, steel bar, white sand, gravel and tie wire, the man-made reef resembles a 5-layer pyramid around 250 centimeters high.

The reef was installed to promote marine protection, fisheries enhancement, and reef rehabilitation.

According to Sebarrotin, the planned monitoring activities will include recording and documenting the presence or absence of plants, invertebrate and fish and guarding the physical condition of the man-made reef.

“We will again ask for the invaluable help of BFAR, PNP Maritime, OCPO, DMO, the barangay and of fishing communities to assist us with the monitoring,” he said. 

“Aside from monitoring, the data that will be gathered from this project may be useful for future references regarding marine life and to properly educate the public on marine conservation,” Mayor Gordon explained.

Meanwhile, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Public Relations Manager Armie Llamas said that the artificial reef project “was painstakingly realized thru the efforts of the men and women of SBMA, in partnership with the Subic Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (SBI FARMC)”.

“It was thru the initiative of SBMA that an Environmental Guarantee Fund was established to safeguard the welfare of fishing communities affected by the development in the Freeport,” said Llamas in an e-mail sent to the city’s Public Affairs Office (PAO).

“From the time the said project was conceptualized, approved by the SBMA Board for funding, until it was built and installed in Subic and San Antonio, Zambales, as well as in areas in Bataan, the SBMA has been in close coordination with the municipal FARMC Chairmen of the aforesaid localities including Mr. Danny Mejia, Chairman of Olongapo City FARMC,” she added.