By Teofilo Garcia, Jr./Philippine News Agency
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Marine Battalion Landing Team-3 (MBLT-3), has partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in a marine life preservation and protection project in Sulu, officials said Wednesday.
Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the MBLT-3 and BFAR have installed artificial reefs in the waters of Barangays Kansipat and Seit Higad in Old Panamao, Sulu.
Besana said the installation of artificial reefs is among the measures to preserve and protect marine life in the coastline of Old Panamao.
He noted that fishing is the basic source of income of the residents in Old Panamao, a fourth-class town in Sulu with 31 barangays. The town’s population is 40,998 as of the 2015 census.
“This (artificial reef) undertaking will greatly help the local fishermen to sustain their livelihood,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Westmincom chief, said that the troops under the Joint Task Force Sulu “will continue to support the implementation of the various activities in coordination with other line agencies that will aid in the socio-economic advancement in the province” aside from the conduct of focused military operations against the Abu Sayyaf.
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