GMA
DIVES IN BALICSAG. Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo samples for herself what
Balicasag has to offer after being picked in a Japanese tourism survey to be one
of the top 3 best dive spots in the world. She found time during her visit here
last Tuesday. Her dive triggers awareness on the need to protect Balicasag from
destruction by divers.
| | Balicasag
Island, which is one of the world's best dive spots is "under threat"
of its marine resources if no immediate protection program can be implemented
by both the government and private sectors.
The
concern was raised after no less than Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sampled the
much talked about diving experience in Balicasag Island last Tuesday during her
presidential visit here for the |
launching
of the P4.2-billion Panglao Bohol International Airport. Pres.
Arroyo herself was intrigued of the beauty of Balicasag after a survey conducted
by a Japanese tourism group showed Balicasag as one of the top 3 best dive spots
in the world. The two others were Palau and Maldives.
Balicasag,
as a famous dive site, captured the limelight last week after two top Manila dailies
featured underwater footage during the diving of the President.
Nueva
Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino and Tarlac Rep. Nikki Teodoro, both professional divers,
escorted the President during a 40-minute dive at the north side of the island
shortly before sundown last Tuesday.
Rep.
Antonino who extended his stay for two more days chanced to scour the vast marine
resources of Balicasag and even got the time to talk with the islanders.
In
an interview with the Chronicle, the Nueva Ecija solon said he noticed some plastics
and an empty bottle while some portions of the reefs were noticeably damaged either
by human hands or by the anchorage of diving boats in the area.
Alarmed
on the observations made by the Tarlac solon, Rep. Edgar Chatto, chairman of the
House committee on tourism called an emergency conference last Friday with Provincial
Tourism Chair Peter Dejaresco, in the presence of Rep. Antonino, regarding the
alarming situation in Balicasag.
| | | Chatto
said that immediate action has to be done to protect Balicasag being one of the
tourism jewels in the province. In fact, Balicasag is on list in various dive
guide books, both here and abroad.
The
solon asked the PTC to convene an inter-agency task force to look into the situation.
Agencies to be called to this inter-agency task force are the Bohol Marine Triangle
under Dauis Mayor Lulu Bonglas, the Coastal Law Enforcement Council (CLEC) under
Cortes Mayor Jasmin Balistoy.
"Bohol
could not afford to have Balicasag corals being damaged," Chatto stressed. |
The concern
to save Balicasag as a dive site came timely after the Bohol Prime Movers headed
by Hans Schoof also tabled for discussion the concerns on Balicasag Island amid
reports of destructions at the site. David Baille, who heads of the resorts owners
in Panglao, is expected to present to the group his initial findings on the extent
of damage at the dive site.
GMA
DIVES IN BALICASAG
Wearing
a diving suit, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo waves before diving into the clear
waters off Balicasag Island Tuesday afternoon a few hours after presiding a Cabinet
meeting and a heated discussion with Meralco executives.
The
President took time out to cool off and check the most famous world-class diving
resort during her last visit here to lead the time capsule laying rites for the
P4.2 billion Panglao Bohol International Airport Project.
Balicasag
Resort manager Maria Elena Go said Pres. Arroyo was excited when she narrated
her experience even with limited visibility.
Accompanied
by Tourism Sec. Joseph Ace Durano, Agriculture Sec. Arthur Yap and professional
Navy divers, the president boarded a pumpboat from Alona Beach in Panglao to Balicasag
Island around 4 p.m. last Tuesday.
Go,
in an interview confessed she was worried about the delay for it was almost dark
when she arrived at the dive site, which reduced visibility.
Putting
on her black wet-suit and a transparent plastic mask, Pres. Arroyo and the Navy
divers first immersed themselves on the north side of Balicasag Island, the dive
point of interest are thick corals that form a kaleidoscopic multi-colored reef
teeming with tropical fish.
The
site, simply named Royal Garden, is also what most divers refer to the entire
marine ecosystem of Balicasag.
From
there, the president's entourage with underwater photographers documenting the
event, proceeded to the thrill of swimming through the black coral forest, also
called Black Forest.
A
Balicasag Island dive master said the president scoured the island's depths up
to 81 feet deep.
The
dive offered a rare opportunity of swimming through black coral at a shallow depth
of 30 meters. Black corals are mostly found below 50 meters.
According
to theories, the island's shadow combined with the coolness and nutrients provided
by currents and upwelling "deceive" the coral into thinking it is at
greater depth.
Apart
from the black corals, schools of tropical fish-such as moorfish idols, batfish
and lionfish - along with assorted nudibranches, including Spanish dancers are
there, Balicasag website states.
Other
Balicasag points of interest, which the President's party missed due to the limited
time and visibility are the Cathedral Wall, Divers' Haven, Turtle Point and the
Marine Sanctuary dives, all ringing the 25 hectare island off Panglao.
After
an hour of diving exploration, the divers dropped by the island for light snacks
of fried banana and pancit while the Prseident indulged in rare photo opportunities
for the community.
According
to reports, Pres. Arroyo got herself interest with Balicasag Island after she
hear stories of both local and international tourists on what the island offers
for divers.
Balicasag
Island has a total land area of 25 hectares and is 30 minutes away by boat from
the island of Panglao.
One-and-a-half
hectares of Balicasag Island has been developed into a resort complex by the Philippine
Tourism Authority, the Balicasag Dive Resort. The resort has been operational
since Oct.1989. | 
