One year later: Malapascua Island slowly gets back on its feet despite Yolanda’s wrath

Even world-class dive sites were not spared from the wrath of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last year. One of these is the Malapascua Island in the Visayan Sea.

 

Malapascua is a small island across the northernmost tip of Cebu. It is so small that most people can walk its circumference in two hours. 

 

The island, which is often described as "Little Boracay," is a favorite spot for diving. Divers from all over the globe flocked to Malapascua to get a closer look of the evasive thresher sharks, giant manta rays, and other marine life. 

 

After Yolanda hit the island during its peak season, resorts were damaged. Palm trees were beaten down. Houses were roofless. Boats were beached along the bay, useless in seas. 

 

Damage to marine life 

 

The devastation went even deeper than that. Coastal habitats were also affected and food security was threatened because of the decline and loss of fish stocks and other marine resources.

 

According to non-government organization Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF)'s post-Yolanda assessment of coral reefs in Northern Cebu conducted in December 2013, mangrove forests and coral reefs were severely damaged. 

 

The mangrove damage in Malapascua was estimated at about two hectares. Meanwhile, the live hard coral cover were poor, about three to less than 20 percent, CCEF said in its assessment.

Damages such as rubble patches and upturned massive corals were also observed at the Coral Garden Marine Sanctuary in the island. 

Swimming ahead

 

A year after the raging storm that was Yolanda, Malapascua has started to get back on its feet. 

 

According Rex Navobos, captain of barangay Logon, the dive sites were not as damaged as the inland infrastructures. 

 

"Ang mga pinaka-naapektuhan talaga ang mga bahay, yung mga resorts. Pero at this point in time, fully rebuilt na rin...they (resorts) are operating normally now. Business as usual," he said.

 

Navobos also said that the island got a lot of help from different government, non-government, and international agencies. 

 

Now that Yolanda's anniversary nears, the barangay captain shared that Malapascua will not be holding activities related to the event. A simple mass to give thanks for having zero casualties in their area will do, he said. 

 

"I don't want to be reminded of that Super Typhoon," he explained. — VC, GMA News