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DiveSox launched with clean up drive
by DOT XII
A DiveSox Campaign was launched last May-June 2022 by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office XII to rekindle the interest of diving enthusiasts on the many beautiful diving areas the region has to offer. The DiveSox campaign also includes clean up drives along the diving areas with the participation of concerned local government units, line agencies, public and private tourism stakeholders, including teachers, students, private diving associations and volunteer divers.
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The DiveSox Campaign Launching and Coastal/Dive Cleanup was conducted in Maasim, Sarangani on May 28, and in the coastal areas of Sultan Kudarat on June 1-2, 2022. The Dive Cleanup focused on the collection of Crown of Thorns (COT), which are marine invertebrates that feed on corals. This is in response to the infestation of COTs in the coastal areas of the said provinces. In Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, a total of 476 COTs and 325 kilos of trash and marine debris were collected.
RDC XII Secretary and NEDA XII Assistant Regional Director Carmel P. Matabang who was present during the May 28, 2022 launching in Maasim, Sarangani, congratulated DOT XII for the DiveSox Campaign. She said the activity is timely, to reinvigorate the tourism sector after the setback it suffered due to Covid 19, thus contributing to the resurgence of economic activities in the region.
The diving industry in the Philippines is one of the economic drivers in terms of tourism. With great pride, for the first time, the country has been awarded as having the Best Overseas Diving Area in the Marine Diving Awards 2022 held recently in Tokyo, Japan.
In SOCCSKSARGEN, the region is blessed with Sarangani Bay and the coastal area of Sultan Kudarat both of which open up to the Celebes Sea, and are very rich in marine resources. These coastal areas attract many foreign visitors each year, including diving enthusiasts. Those divers, who have the opportunity to visit the region’s diving sites said the sites are at par with international diving spots.
