The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) – of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 6 recently received an award for its coastal restoration project.

Kalahi-CIDSS’s presented its entry through an audio-visual presentation which revolves on the severely damage seafloor along the coast of Barangay San Isidro, Ibajay in Aklan and the installation of the jackstone type artificial coral reefs.

The award was received by DSWD 6 Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre during the Thematic Environmental Management System (TEMS) National Conference and Workshop recently held in Cebu City.

The artificial coral reef project was pushed by the community for funding under the Kalahi-CIDSS-Millennium Challenge Corporation. It was prioritized because of its significance in aiding the severe impact in deep-sea habitat from destructive fishing which resulted to the declining fish catch.

The undersea videos and photographs taken by the divers from the Provincial Agriculture Office revealed the damage seabed. No coral reefs serve as natural habitat for juvenile fishes and other marine animals. No sea grass and marine life exists in the muddy seabed.

The present seabed condition affected the fish catch and income of the 87 households who depends from fishing as main source of livelihood.

With the installation of the artificial coral reef in 2013, the community is hoping for the restoration of the marine ecosystem and same time provide new habitat for fish and other marine animals.

The community is considering of requesting the technical team from the agriculture office to conduct under underwater assessment. They are also contemplating of declaring the area where the 205 pieces of artificial coral reefs were installed as marine protected area./dswd6/Maricar M. Calubiran