12:38 AM May 12th, 2016
It so happens the
Consunji-led company has discovered a way to prepare the future of both its
host communities and island environment, even if it’s one borne out of coal
mine operations.
In 2006, the company
released 150 pieces of the Tridacna gigas, an endangered species of giant
clams, near the waters of Panian mine on Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique
province. Citing research, the firm says these giant clams cannot thrive in
polluted waters, thus serving as an indicator of the health of the bodies of
water near the mine.
Little did management
know the reseeding activity would eventually present the company an
opportunity to contribute to the conservation of the endangered giant clams and
to the rehabilitation of the reefs in the area—mitigating the mine’s impact on
the lives of the people and the environment.
Betting on the
symbiotic relationship of the Tridacnids with corals and fishes, Semirara
seeded giant clams and found these serve as catalyst for improving biodiversity
in the Semirara Marine Sanctuary. The giant clams were filter-feeders, or they
cleaned the seawaters.
The giant clams
eventually attracted other marine species, subsequently rehabilitating the
reefs, Semirara says.
The company says this
is effectively “re-wilding” the fishing environment in the area. The clams’
large, hard shells literally “build” reefs, providing fishes and soft corals
with protected spaces within which to hide and lay eggs.
Through the help of
National Scientist Dr. Edgardo Gomez in June 2014, the company-funded Semirara
Marine Hatchery Laboratory exchanged resources with the Marine Ecology Center
of Sabah, Malaysia. The latter brought in the Hippopus porcellanus (giant
porcelain clams) in order to help boost the biodiversity in the island.
Today, seven species
are under the care of the laboratory. Semirara mining says the rich biodiversity
in the area means reestablishing fishing as the island’s main source of
livelihood.
By end-2014, the
facility would have reseeded 21,145 of the 85,975 giant clams born in Semirara.
Giant clams spawned at the Semirara Marine Hatchery Laboratory are reseeded at
the Semirara Marine Sanctuary.
The firm has also
drawn recognition for its work in the island.
“Our company was
named first runner-up in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) category of
the 2015 Asean Energy Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for our reef
rehabilitation efforts in Semirara Island,” company president and COO Victor A.
Consunji said at the company’s stockholders meeting in end April.
He said the company
wants to create a corporate culture anchored on good governance practices. In
2015, the company was included in the top 50 publicly listed Philippine
companies that scored high based on the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard.
“We envision to
continue providing holistic support and development of our host communities
through our CSR initiatives for sustainability. After surviving—with no
casualty—the strongest typhoon that hit the country, Typhoon Yolanda, we
undertook to further strengthen emergency preparedness of the whole
municipality of Caluya,” he said.
“I would also like to
mention that as of 2015, we have planted trees and mangroves in almost 625
hectares, more than tenth of the total size of the 5,500-hectare island. Of
this area, around 200 hectares are mangrove plantations,” he said.
He said the firm
would also continue to support education in the island. “When classes start in
June, Semirara will be K to 12 ready with the additional 12 classrooms we are
building in Divine Word School of Semirara.” Riza T. Olchondra
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