An international conservation group warned yesterday that the current El Niño episode may have adverse effects on the recovering coral reefs in the country. Gregg Yan, information, education and communications officer of the World Wild Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF-Philippines), noted that during the 1997-1998 El Niño event, Apo Refef in Occidental Mindoro suffered heavily from increased sea surface temperatures. "These coral reefs damaged by bleaching are still recovering, particularly in Apo Reef," Yan said in an interview.

De Vera, E. B. (2010, March 12). Coral reefs face new El Niño threat. Manila Bulletin, p. 14.