Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( DENR) ordered recently the creation of a task force under the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau to monitor and document coral bleaching in the country. Paje directed the department’s regional officers to mobilize their technical staff to collaborate with local government units and other concerned parties in monitoring such activities in their respective areas, particularly those with marine protected areas (MPA). He issued the order after scientists and divers reported massive bleaching of coral reefs in the country because of warmer-than-usual ocean-water temperature.

Galvez, J. K. (2010, September 13). DENR creates body on anti-coral bleaching. The Manila Times, p. A5.