Clean water advocate ‘Pinoy Aquaman’ to cross silted Surigao channel – report

On the first weekend of 2015, a triathlete lawyer and environment advocate who earned the nickname "Pinoy Aquaman" will try to set a record by crossing the heavily silted 10-kilometer Hinatuan Passage in Surigao del Norte.

 

Lawyer Ingemar Macarine said the feat he will attempt on Friday, Jan. 2, is part of his advocacy for clean water and marine resources protection, MindaNews reported.

 

“We can’t deny the fact that large part of this area is heavily silted due to mining operations and part of marine resources in this area had ruined what could have been the perpetual source of livelihood among residents especially the fisher folk, the majority dwellers,” he said.

 

He downplayed local fisherfolk's warnings about sharks in the water. “I don’t care if sharks will be around, I’ll be happy swimming with them,” he said.

 

Friday's swim, which hee xpects to take three hours, will start at Bucas Grande island — a tourist spot — and finish in the heavily-silted bay at Claver town in Surigao del Norte.

 

Claver plays host to mining companies that reportedly extract mineral ore, mostly nickel, and send them to China and Japan.

 

In May 2014, Macarine tried to swim from Visayas to Mindanao to raise awareness on the protection of the environment, but did not quite achieve his goal.

 

Macarine, who initially planned the swim for Dec. 30 but postponed it because of Tropical Cyclone Seniang, was the first man to swim 4.28 kilometers from Basul Island in Surigao to mainland Surigao City on Dec. 31, 2013. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News