DENR Pushes Protection of Capiz’s 160-Hectare Seagrass Bed

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Capiz is pushing for the declaration of Tukad Reef in Pilar town as a marine protected area (MPA) following the discovery of a massive seagrass bed.

Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ernest Federiso said they found a 160-hectare seagrass bed in the area, which serves as a nursery for marine species and plays a critical role in maintaining reef biodiversity and health.

“Accidentally, we have stumbled upon about 160 hectares of seagrass,” Federiso said.

“Imagine that there are a lot of species of corals. In the middle of the corals and the shore, there are 160 hectares of seagrass,” he added.

Federiso said the seagrass bed in Tukad Reef could potentially be the largest in the country.

His team is currently conducting a Protected Area Sustainability Assessment to support the proposal for the reef’s official designation as an MPA.

Declaring Tukad Reef as an MPA would help protect vulnerable species and ecosystems from threats such as illegal fishing, overfishing, and destructive human activities.

Federiso said the DENR is in discussions with Petron Corp. for potential partnerships in protecting the area.

He added that with the start of the new budget cycle, they plan to seek financial assistance from the newly elected district representative to support conservation efforts.

He noted that the waters in Pilar are clearer than those in Guimaras, attributing this to the natural filtration properties of seagrass, which trap silt and sediment, leading to cleaner water and healthier coral reefs.

Federiso emphasized that coral reef health is directly tied to the condition of nearby seagrass beds and the reduction of land-based siltation.

He added that Tukad Reef has the potential to become a diving destination similar to Apo Reef in Negros Occidental, boosting eco-tourism in the province.

Initial assessments show that Tukad Reef has approximately 63 percent coral cover, with some areas in excellent condition despite the presence of coral rubble.

Federiso noted that past efforts to designate protected areas have mostly focused on land ecosystems, but stressed that equal attention must now be given to marine environments.