(a place where many great ideas are born) drinking a couple of San Miguel Beers and discussing the state of the local reefs. It was decided that many people and organizations who are employed to protect, develop and help save the Delicate Marine Eco-System were all plan and no action so a few more beers later it was decided that if anything was going to be done to restore and improve the local marine environment for future generations to see and enjoy, the private sector, starting with Chris and John along with the local divers would have to be the ones to take the lead in the restoration project.  

Over the next couple of weeks the initial Concrete Reef Domes were designed and constructed using all locally available materials at Cambridge Farm Hotel and on the 17th April 2005 the first Reef Domes were deployed in the waters fronting Maharlika Beach Resort by the group of local diving enthusiasts. 

Now, just over 40 months later, having deployed 5,001 Reef Domes with great success in and around the waters of the Sarangani Bay Area, The project has been fully completed in what we think to be a very reasonable time and at a extremely reasonable price costing less than Php 200.0 ($4.2) per dome. 

Reef Dome LocationsDuring the project we have set the 5,001 Reef Domes at the following 22 Locations: 
1)         Maharlika Beach Resort 1             228

2)         Maharlika Beach Resort 2             522

3)         London Beach   Resort                141

4)         Takut Tabo Bawing                    750

5)         Malbang Reef Maasim                  100

6)         Tuka Reef Kiamba                         6

7)         Rajah Beach Resort                     245

8)         Family Beach Resort                    76

9)         South Point Divers, Tinoto          288

10)        Rocky Beach Tinoto                   296

11)        Dupalco Beach Resort                  75

12)        Lion Beach                                 723

13)        Petron Pier Bawing                     403

14)        Takut Dalu Bawing                      80

15)        Sand Bar Tinoto                          418

16)        Kamanga Reef Maasim                  30

17)        Tampuan / Dole Tinoto               135

18)        Lun Padidu, Malapatan                18  MSU Student Private Deployment.

19)        Engr Bensonan Beach Maasim     81  Private Deployment.

20)        Tropicana Beach Resort              326

21)        Takut Gamay, Maasim                 30

22)        Chapter Reef, Maasim                  30 

Total =              5,001 Reef Domes. 

Materials, Quantities and Costs

In order to construct the 5,001 Reef Domes, the following materials were used.      

Material.                         Quantity.                                                        Cost. 

1) Holcim Cement:         114 Tons                                                         P 499,846.00

2) 7mm Steel Bars          1,789 Pieces                                                     P   78,323.00

3) Sand & Gravel           431 Cu Yards                                                   “Cost with No 5.”

4) Labor                        5,001 Domes                                                    P 249,469.00 

5) Miscellaneous            Formwork, Mould Oil, Tie Wire Etc                   P 114,691.00 

Total Cost of Project for 5,001 Reef Domes. = Php942, 329.00  

(This Price = Approx US$21,000 or US$4.2 per dome at the time of writing)

 Note: All materials for the project were locally sourced within General Santos City 

As I have said in previous reports, all Diving, Transport of Reef Domes to site, Boats, Documentation etc has been voluntary with no cost to the project. To give an idea to the extent of this voluntary contribution to the project below are some approximate figures as to the quantities of these individual segments. 

1)         Reef Dome Deployment Group Dives (Up to 8 Divers)                200+

2)         Dome Delivery Truck journeys (50 km max each way)              200+

3)         Dome Deployment Boat Trips, (30 Km each way average)          60+

4)         Photography Dives                                                                  30+

5)         Follow up Photography Dives                                                  20+

6)         Documents Produced                                                               100+

7)         Vehicle Journeys to Deployment Sites (50km max each way)     300+

8)         Vehicle Journeys for follow up dives      (50km max each way)  200+

9)         Boat Trips for follow up dives (30km each way average)           50+

10)        Follow up Group Dives (3 to 5 Divers) Transplants Etc              200+

11)        Scuba Tanks for follow up dives                                              1,000+

12)        Future Maintenance Dives                                                Unknown Quantity? 

I think that any reader of this report would agree that if the above items were priced and added to the cost of the project, the price of a dome would at least be double or more. 

Goals for the future
Because of the very successful deployment of the 5,001 Reef Domes in and around Sarangani Bay, it now gives us a good idea as to how much more work will be required on the reefs in order to make the project as successful as possible. Even though we have finished with the main Reef Dome deployment there is still a lot of work to do in the areas around the Reef Domes. Even replanting the broken corals caused by net fishing will keep us busy until such destructive fishing methods are stopped for good. Our main goal was to provide improvements to the under water areas of General Santos and Tinoto as this is as far as we can realistically deliver the Reef Domes without too much transportation costs, for areas further away like Maasim, Glan, Maitum and Kiamba etc we are hoping that such area authorities would take action themselves to restore their own marine environments as required as we, as a small group of private individuals cannot do it all. We are truly hoping for such actions from the LGU’s sometime in the future. 

Coral Transplants
Many hard branching and table type corals (Acroporidae) have been used to add character to the Reef Domes and Extensions and by tying on or plugging coral tips into pre drilled holes. Many of these tips have now fused into the holes and are irremovable from the recipient Reef Domes. 

Clusters of stag horn coral (Acroporidae) have been moved from the areas where main coral formations are present and transplanted into new locations where corals are lacking. This type of coral appears to be very hardy and does not seem to mind being moved; the success rate of this type or transplant is not 100% but is very encouraging. 

Small table corals can always be found broken off of their root stem by fishing nets or large fish and dumped back on the sea bed. These can simply be moved to and tied onto the Reef Domes where they seem adhere to and thrive in many cases. 

Soft hand corals (Xeniidae) and anemones need only be in the vicinity of a Reef Dome and they will move onto the stable platform which is the dome. Many other types of Soft Corals and Sponges are relocated to fill the gaps in between the Reef Domes in order to make the new reef more natural. 

Most of the required transplant materials have already been broken or uprooted either by nature but more likely by man with the exception of the stag horn plugs. It has been noticed that when a tip is broken off the Stag Horn then like a tree, several new growing tips grow from the broken stem of the mother coral. 

Lion Beach really needs a big transplanting effort as there is a very minimal amount of natural coral in the area. Unfortunately, after the inexcusable coral destroying exercise by one (still) City Employee we have been refused permission by PAMB (Provincial Area Management Board) to transfer corals for transplant to Lion Beach. Such a pity really as transplants would really speed up development here. 

Natural Coral Growth on Domes
According to the Scientific Literature, hard corals take many years to grow. To date there is much natural growth on the domes in all locations. Many varieties of soft coral colonize the Reef Domes along with barnacles and other types of permanent shelled organisms. We actually believed that it would take many years for hard corals to show themselves. We were very surprised because in this area it only took less than 9 months or so for these hard corals to start to show their true form. 

On Takut Tabo, a sea mount, the coral growth is much better than in our wildest dreams with huge (Acroporidae and Pocilloppridae) Type Corals covering many Reef Domes in a very short period of time.           

Fish Habitat
The Habitat created by both the Reef Domes and the Coral Transplants have been very spectacular with many Reef Domes being filled with juvenile fish and other creatures. Even the Transplanted Table Corals have their usual compliment of small fish and cruscations living within the relative safety of the inner matrix. It has been noticed that on occasions, within the first 24 hours of deployment, the clean surfaces of the Reef Domes have been covered with fish eggs. Many Reef Domes have resident lion fish or moray eels or at least one very defensive damsel fish. Many predators use the Reef Domes as traps to catch smaller prey fish. Lion Beach is probably the best example of successful habitat creation as this area has improved from an almost zero fish population zone with septic tank-like conditions some 5 years ago to now with around 40+ species of fish numbering in the thousands and many other marine creatures present at this time. After the tremendous effort by the General Santos City Government to clean up the area so successfully, Lion Beach should be the prime site to create a Marine Sanctuary and we hope that this will happen in the near future. If the city cannot protect this small inner city area then there will be little chance of protection in any other places I am sure. 

Dangers to the Success of the Project
Probably the biggest danger to the success of not only this project but any other attempt at coral reef restoration is the use of any form of fishing using fine gill nets within the areas where the Reef Domes or other transplants are deployed or upon any other area of coral reef. Already, on many occasions new corals and coral transplants have been ripped up and destroyed by these people who fish with nets. Because the Reef Domes are creating new habitats for fish and other marine creatures these fishermen move in quickly in order to harvest this new bounty not caring at all that their catch consists of mostly juvenile fish. Go to Lion Beach any night to see this type of fishing in action under the watchful eye of the Barangay South Police. 

After the immense amount of devastation brought upon the coral reefs by both Mother Nature in the form of Storms and Coral Predators like the Crown of Thorns Sea Star and of course by Man, it is now time that this and all other forms of indiscriminate, destructive and stupid fishing methods on the coral reefs are totally stopped. This can easily be achieved if there is a serious commitment from the powers that be as there are already plenty of people employed to give such protection but are very rarely seen near the shore. It is a well proven fact in many areas that coral reefs can be restored with a little effort and policing from both Local Government and at Community Level. A great example of this is on the off shore Sea Mount near Lot, Malapatan. From a well abused reef, this is now well covered with corals and many species of fish once again. 

On a more negative note, when we dive in Maitum Town, on some of the best off shore reefs in the area if not the whole Philippines it is “unfortunately very usual” to hear the loud explosions caused by blast fishing coming from the direction of the town of Palingbang in Sultan Kudarat some 40 km away. Sadly, they still target the Maitum Reefs on occasions causing damage but nobody including the local Police or Military Units are either able or willing to try to stop this illegal practice.  

On Several Visits to Takut Tabo, Rajah Beach Resort and Dupalco Beach Resort, all located in the same vicinity of Sarangani Bay; there have been groups of up to 20 Reef Domes turned over killing the upper coral growth as it was buried in the sea bed. This is probably done by the same brainless group of people looking for resident marine creatures to catch but these people do not have the common sense to reset the domes to their correct position so that they would have a chance of catching something else in them in the future. It has been attempted to educate these people by many civic minded groups but unfortunately these people never want to learn. 

Takut Tabo is a small off shore Sea Mount only about 300 meters from the main Petron Petroleum company loading / unloading facility and at low tide the water cover can be as little as 4 meters over the crest of the reef. Some of the Reef Domes deployed there have in the past been and still are being crushed by the hulls of ships passing over this reef. We deployed 2 small marker buoys made from Scrap LPG Cylinders kindly supplied by Petron but unfortunately these buoys have now disappeared, we also sent the GPS coordinates of the danger area to all relevant parties in the area who we thought might take action to make moves to avoid a potential Marine Disaster within Sarangani Bay but to date nothing has happened and Reef Domes are still being crushed by passing ships as there are now no more marker buoys marking the danger zone. Just now another long Pier is being constructed by a fishing company in the same area increasing the danger of a Marine Disaster. Let us all hope that this does not happen.    

Since the Tinoto wall area was made a Marine Park the difference is clear. There is now little coral damage and also the fish population has increased by a large percentage. If this area is kept protected, the exploding fish population will expand outside the area and be fair game for the local fisher folk. 

Unfortunately, this area has been chosen as the site for a new Coal Fired Power Station which will in the future be very detrimental to the entire environment if it goes ahead. Also, with the recent security problems in the area, the local Police detachment was moved further away so the local fishermen have decided to fish in the Marine Park once again. The local Barangay Officials could prevent such actions but appear not to be interested unfortunately. 

Incorporated New Ideas and Changes to the Project
Since the project started we have made many changes as to the construction design of the Reef Domes and the general working of the project.  1)     We are now developing a hollow block base for transplanting branching type corals. The blocks are made using a specially designed block mould measuring 18 inches long by 8 inches wide by 6 inches high. The cement mixture is slightly stronger than a normal block mix but is still very porous allowing easy grip for miniscule organisms to attach themselves. With the block being wide and shallow, once stuffed with broken corals the whole thing is very stable and not easily tipped over. So far, this block idea seems very good and makes a simple way to transplant broken corals. 2)     We stopped the construction of the Cambridge Reef Dome as it was too time consuming and labor intensive to produce. The Fish Port Reef Dome was also stopped as we think that in more shallow areas it was too small and could too easily be moved.2) 

Points of Interest, Observations
It was noticed that the Reef Domes deployed at depths to around 8 to 12 meters in the first instance were quickly colonized by barnacles sometime covering the whole outer service especially on the vertical surfaces. This was commented upon by some interested readers of previous reports. Now, over the last couple of years we have noticed that after grazing on the barnacles by Parrot Fish and the like, the empty spaces cleared of barnacles are soon colonized by corals. 

In some areas of reef, especially the ones in extreme current areas, any broken or new corals never got the chance to reestablish as the currents kept on moving the loose rubble about. Once a good amount of Reef Domes have been deployed, this seems to disrupt the full current flow over the reef and breaks it down as it moves between the Reef Domes leaving areas of calm in the Lea of the Reef Dome where new growth can take hold. Takut Tabo is a very good example of this kind of action. 

Most Reef Domes appear to have a very good growth of organisms which appear to like the darker inner areas and in many cases at this early stage there is more growth on the insides of the Reef Domes than on the exterior surfaces. 

 It has been noticed that in some areas, small Sand Dollars (Fungiidae) appear to grow on the outer surfaces of the Reef Domes? After some time they fall off and continue life on the sand. It is not known by the writer if this is normal or not.  

 In most areas it is quite obvious that the fish populations have increased dramatically and are now being targeted by fishermen. If these people use only the hook and line method of fishing then the fish stocks should continue to flourish but once the marauding Fine Gill Net Pirate Boats target a reef then unnecessary destruction to the corals is inevitable as they move in very quickly, cast and retrieve there nets and disappear with all speed as they are not usually residents of the area. 

A Personal Project within the Project
Engineer Bensonan, a public official of Gen San came up with an idea using the Reef Domes to catch fish in an area of Maasim where no corals or any other resident marine creatures live. This body of water was devoid of life so he came up with the idea that by constructing a 5 meter square bamboo platform on the beach, mounting 4 Reef Domes, one on each corner of the bamboo platform and then constructing a bamboo pyramid above the platform. The whole structure was then towed into the water by boat dragging it along the sandy sea bed into the required position. Some 20 of these structures have been deployed in the water and we are told with good results as fish and squid is now a regular catch where previously there was nothing. 

Once the bamboo part of the structure rots away the Reef Domes will still remain hopefully forming the base of a new reef. 

Congratulations to Engineer Bensonan for his inspirational idea and taking a chance to see if his idea would transform a bleak area of ocean into a productive area. 

Summary
The overall success of the project I think speaks for itself. Fish and other Marine Creatures now inhabit areas of Sarangani Bay where there have either been none for a long time or have never before been seen in many areas.We really hope now that protection can be placed on these few small areas that we are busy restoring in order not to make our efforts a futile waste of time and money. 

We are also very thankful and fortunate that we were not tied down with official red tape and were actually allowed to get on with the project without interference from any sector except for the incident where we were told by PAMB (Protected Area Management Board) not to transfer corals into the Lion Beach area after a Coral Destruction Incident. This was a disappointment and will slow down coral growth in that area but that is not the end of the world and nature will still prevail given the chance.

For this and other projects to continue to be successful, all that is required is the protection of the reefs by the Local Governments and other organizations who are supposed to take care of such things. Also the continuing sponsorship and assistance from interested citizens, companies and organizations who genuinely want to make a difference on other such projects in the future. I truly hope that these wishes can come true to ensure we always have coral reefs for our future generations to see and enjoy.A project on the scale of the Reef Dome Project is not really big as many Projects go but the work load undertaken by the very few members of the team has been really immense to say the least and the whole team is very tired both physically and mentally. The Team Members have sacrificed many days which could have been quality family time in order to make the project as successful as possible. Some people advise us to continue with the project indefinitely but unfortunately these people have not psychically been involved with the project and such a continuation will not happen on a large scale as it is simply too much work and we cannot continue to ask for voluntary support from the same few people who have worked so hard to get the project where it is today. There is a possibility that we will construct and deploy some small amounts of Reef Domes for interested sponsors in the future but nothing near to the numbers constructed and deployed in the past and the cost per Reef Dome will be set at a much higher and more realistic price.  

All in all, we are really very pleased with the donations which made the project possible and the excellent work from everybody who was involved and contributed their time and effort at no cost to the project. 

List of Contributors and Sponsors to the Project
We wish to send our very special thanks to all who gave assistance in making the project so successful with their donations, Financial, Material Contribution, Labor, Diving and Moral Support. 

Major Sponsors
Mr. Roger Lim of Gen San Aqua Traders, The Project Aware Foundation, The Philippine Ports Authority Gen San, Caltex Petroleum, The Rotary Clubs of Gen San, Stephen Castillio of MMPC, The RD Foundation, Dole Philippines, Marijo Caronongan, Michel Solon, Engr Bensonan, Aaron Lisay, SPW Fishing, John Heitz of Aqua Traders, Chris Dearne of Tuna City Scuba Center, The Tuna Jay Cee’s, Rodrigo Salangsang, Cambridge Farm Hotel. 

Other Sponsors
Tony Ramos, Raul Campus, Don Partridge, Joe Diver, Gen San Doctors Hospital, Brian Macinlay, Pescadore Fishing, Dr Diagan, Geoff Thurley, Ray Sison, Rey Sabino, Rick Sandquist, MGTR, The Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers, The Metro Bank, PLC, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College, Holy Trinity College, Peter Birch, VFA Members, Twin Star Jay Cee’s, Glenda MSU. 

All the individuals and organizations that purchased Reef Dome Tee Shirts. 

“I am sure that I have not named all the people who gave sponsorship to the Reef Dome Project and I sincerely apologize to anyone who I have missed. Please take heart in the knowledge that you actually sponsored a project that was not only very successful but was also fully completed in a reasonable time frame (40 months).” 

Persons without whom the Project would not have been possibleThe Cambridge Farm Staff who constructed the Reef Domes.The Crew of Aqua Traders who delivered the Reef Domes to the sites,The Boat Crew of John Heitz who transported the reef Domes to offshore reefs,All the anonymous people who helped to roll the Reef Domes into the water,The Tuna City Divers who deployed the Reef Domes into position on the reefs. 

Disappointments through Missed Opportunities
1) The Marine Biology Department of the Mindanao State University, who I believed would have taken the opportunity to study a new kind of project from start to finish. Sadly, they did not.2) The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Who employ divers on their staff but to my knowledge have never once tried to check the improvements to the fish populations increased in areas where the Reef Domes have been deployed.3) The Organizations and Individuals who lay claim to have sponsored parts of the Reef Dome Project but have not in fact quantified their claims in any way whatsoever either material or financial. 

Special Congratulations and or thanks must go to the following people for their initiative in making good use of the project: 

Mr. John Duane Hitalia and Miss Marie Antoinette Pena for successfully taking the initiative by using a study on the Reef Domes Project to gain their Masters Degrees in Marine Biology. 

Dr Stan Dela Cruz for supplying the Magnificent Underwater Images of the project.   

Final Notes
I hope that I have not offended any individual or organization by any of the text in this or any of my previous documents but being British I like to tell things as honestly as I see them and I hope that any of my comments will be taken as constructive criticism to the subject in hand. 

Neither Chris Dearne nor John Heitz are, or pretend to be Marine Biologists or experts nor are they qualified in any Marine Scientific Subject but they are both dedicated Divers with over 5,000 Dives between them in the Sarangani Bay Area and they are the Joint Founders and Management Team of the Reef Dome Project. I think that this record in itself proves their dedication and interest in keeping the Marine Eco System within the area intact for our future generations to enjoy. 

If such a small number of dedicated people (20 divers) can complete a voluntary undertaking like the 5,000 Reef Dome Project from the Very Small Dive Shop in the Gen San area proves that with a little Will, Determination and Sacrifice, interested groups can achieve similar results within their own locations.