EcoSurf: Promoting Environmental Stewardship at El Yu Surfing Spot
El Yu, La Union’s famed surfing spot in Urbiztondo, San Juan would have more than its exciting waves and powdery beaches to offer with the launch of a multi-sectoral environmental collaboration.
Launched during the recent Earth Day celebration was Pawi-CAN: A Sustainable Waste Management Project by executive assistant firm Athena, a multi-pronged corporate social responsibility project which promotes marine biodiversity, waste management and environmental stewardship among locals and tourists.
The activity’s highlight is an instructional demonstration on the assembly of scientifically-certified coral reef substrates before they were transplanted underwater by members of EcoSurf, a surfing instructor group and freedivers who are also into environmental nurture.
The surfers underwent a coral planting certification organized by the Fostering Education & Environment for Development (FEED) under the renowned marine biodiversity expert Annuar Abdullah, president and CEO of Malaysia-based environmental conservation organization Ocean Quest Global.
The volunteer participants underwent a rigid training on coral planting solution production which helps coral growth at the lowest possible impact to the ocean, sans the use of rubber tires or cement.
The process seeks to restore the underwater coral cover for fishes to spawn and increase catch for the fisherfolk.
The undertaking is a collaborative effort of Athena with the San Juan Resort Restaurant and Hotel Association (SJRRHASS), Dragon 8 Junkshop, and the Municipal Government of San Juan, and FEED.
“La Union is a hallmark for sustainable tourism and environmental protection, and we are honored to work with the locals to promote waste management, as this aligns with Athena’s aim to improve quality of life through maintaining a clean environment,” says Athena chief marketing officer Victoria Alcachupas.
She noted that marine pollution by solid wastes is a serious threat to coral reefs, and the rate of threatened coral reefs globally will rise to 90 percent by 2030 if no conservation interventions are made to minimize local stressors.
Athena also unveiled artistically-designed sea turtle-shaped garbage bins to represent the efforts to conserve the pawikan, one of the endangered marine animals in La Union.
Designed and made by home-grown artist John Parmisano, the pawikan garbage bins are prominently placed at the beachfront of Urbiz Garden and other high foot traffic points, and go with educational visuals on waste segregation and recycling.
Alcachupas said that their firm believes in the “pawi-CAN” philosophy which seeks to foster a culture of teamwork among stakeholders to foster synergy for the community development and environmental care.
She said that the initiative is aligned with this year’s Earth Day global theme of “Planet vs. Plastics,” which seeks to radically reduce the production of plastic materials by up to 60 percent by 2040.
The project will undergo a five-month monitoring, with the collected plastic wastes to be used for another beachfront art installation, to help heighten public environmental awareness, particularly on the reduction of plastics use.
San Juan mayor Arturo Valdriz expressed optimism on the long-lasting impact of the said initiatives. “We hope that with these efforts, locals and beachgoers alike will develop a greater awareness of their solid waste disposal habits, keeping our waters clean.”
Recognized as the “surfing capital of the north”, the municipality hosts hundreds of tourist establishments and thousands of workers, which contribute exponentially to locally-generated waste materials.
With a powdery beach and a seabed rich in aquatic life, this surfing spot may soon be a haven for freediving and scuba diving.
In photo at the project launch are VIP stakeholders Victoria Alcachupas, lawyer Reginald Nang of the municipal government of San Juan, celebrity ambassador Aya Fernandez, and Urbiz Garden and SJRRHASS president Tina Antonio.
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