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Sci & TechBoracay’s contribution to science cited
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Author: Jun Ariolo Aguirre (375 Articles)
By JUN ARIOLO N. AGUIRRE
BORACAY ISLAND, Malay, Aklan- A marine scientist has urged stakeholders to promote this resort island as a “natural swimming pool” even as she cited the contribution of Boracay to science.
In her paper, “Seaweed Resources Assessment and Observations on Ecologrelative to Climate Change in Boracay Island” formatted into a Powerpoint presentation, Dr. Paciente Cordero, a member of the board of trustees of the National Research Council of the Philippines of the Department of Science and Technology (NRCP-DOST), said that she has been going to and from the province of Aklan since 1973 as a researcher for the Philippine National Museum (PNM).
“The PNM then has one exponent on basic research. Through a Task Force it created its first Marine Biological Research Station (MBRS) in Barangay Jawili, Tangalan, Aklan. The TF, composed of researchers from PNM Divisions of Botany, Zoology and Geology and Marine Archaeology Section, was mandated to conduct database collections of marine-based specimens of natural history specimens,” said Cordero.
She said that after the successful research and documentations on marine species which include new records of specimens, several of the papers presented were published both in international and national research journals and science fora.
Because of this, the MBRS became the field station of several projects in Panay Island mostly handled by Dr. Paciente herself.
Aside from Aklan province where Tangalan and Boracay are located, the provinces of Guimaras, Northern Iloilo and Antique have been sites for their research on seaweeds production and other specimens.
“Based on the phase 1 (1973-2003) and phase 2 (2004-2008) researches, both gathered data on the studies conducted in this resort island have contributed greatly to knowing the biodiversity rich marine algae of the Philippines. In general, all of the marine algae described from Boracay Island are considered initial/new record from the island, some of which are also new for Panay Island and the Philippines,” Cordero said.
According to the assessment of marine algae of Panay Island produced by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources, Research and Development (PCCRD) also of the DOST, there were 126 species found in the four provinces of Panay including Guimaras Island.
Of these, Boracay reportedly has 12 green, 16 red and six brown algal species.
Because of this, Cordero recommended that the stakeholders of this resort island – being a haven for both foreign and local tourists – be promoted as a “natural swimming pool” because of its rich marine flora and fauna.
Her recommendations are: crafting and implementation of sustainable development program on the marine algae biodiversity and ecology of the island and neighboring waters; conduct of studies and assessment of climate change role on environment, publication of biological, ecological and socio-economic data on the island; putting into place applicable engineering designs and infrastructures; capacity building and community awareness on climate change;
Introduction of seaweed farming as alternative livelihood; periodic hosting of Science and Technology (S&T) fora with Filipino and foreign marine biologists as resource speakers; and implementation of “No-Touch, No Collection and Bio-Prospecting” of any biological, and non-biological materials from the island by the residents and tourists.
“A well-studied Boracay Island marine flora will provide significant inputs that will lead to patching up of gaps with relevant data for a better, understanding and protection of the marine algal biodiversity and ecology of the country so to provide answers on why the country is rich on marine resources,” said Cordero. (PNA)
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