Netizens urge Pinoys: Boycott coral accessories, save PHL seas

With increasing media attention on the smuggling of endangered marine species from the Philippines, demands are snowballing in social media to end the use of corals as accessories, among other things. Using the hashtag or code #reefwatchPH, Twitter users are beginning to support a movement to protect endangered marine species threatened by smuggling and other illegal activities. Calls to protect endangered corals, seashells, and other marine species have increased in the past few weeks after the government seized tons of such species allegedly meant to be smuggled from various parts of the Philippines.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV “Please help save our Philippine seas by boycotting coral-accented jewelry and fashion accessories," Twitter user @momblogger said on the social networking site on Thursday. “Could we hold on June 1 a global blog action day to save Philippine corals and seas?" added Twitter user @tonyocruz, referring to a proposal to call for blog entries on Philippine marine species on the said date. The latest smuggling attempt involved P15 million of endangered black sea fan corals, according to a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras" on Thursday. Authorities seized around 700 sacks of the species allegedly meant to be shipped from Cebu to China to be turned into fashion accessories, the report added. Other recent cases include the illegal trading of endangered seashells in Cebu, which also caught public attention this month. More volunteers In an interview with GMA News Online on Thursday, environment advocate and writer Anna Oposa said she, along with other Twitter users, are urging netizens to call for more attention to the issue by tweeting about it using the hashtag #reefwatchPH. “We’re using it to gather volunteers who will help restore the corals," said Oposa, who alerted the media and government about the illegal trading of endangered marine species allegedly by the Cebu-based Orcullo Enterprises and the US-based company Shell Horizons. “We want the government and the online community to know that we’re watching," Oposa added. She is writing letters to government officials to act on the issue. Oposa gave particular attention to Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, whose province has reportedly been a site of coral harvesting. “I’m interested in what he’ll say about it," she said, noting that Pacquiao has also been vocal on the controversial Reproductive Health bill. — VS, GMA News