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| Mr. Jonathan Canillo joins the first-batch to visit the island. |
Buluan is the last barangay of Ipil in its western part. Buluan is a
coastal community with inhabitants that are mostly dependent on fishing
as their means of livelihood. Just around 2.3 km from the coastline of
Buluan is a famous spot in the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay - the Buluan Island. Many of the people in Ipil, the Provincial Capital Town, have not yet visited the place. The island has just gained its popularity when it has become a sanctuary for marine life. Zamboanga Sibugay National High School's Science Club planned to participate in the preservation of the island. It partnered with the LGU to conduct an inland costal cleanup. Science Clubbers' Buluan Island Cleanup Project was finally implemented on August 23, 2012. With life vests worn, some 45 science club officers and members together with their science teachers Mr. Darwin Lumosbog, Mr. Jonathan Canillo and Mrs. Loliza Culamis with Ms. Edna of the Municipal Agriculture and Buluan Marine Protected Area officer Mr. Felix Badon, landed on Buluan Island via boat. The group was escorted by three Military Men of the Regional Mobile Group.
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| Mr. Felix Badon orients the science clubbers, on the protected area of the Island. The second batch, who arrived a little later, were also given the same orientation. |
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| The equally excited second batch of science clubbers arrive with their military escorts. |
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| A picture of the beautiful island taken just a few minutes before the arrival |
The island is indeed a nature's masterpiece, being blessed with greens, white sand and cool blue waters, inhabited by diverse forms of marine life. Mr. Felix Badon gave orientation to the group on Buluan, being a Marine Protected Area (MPA). He explained the features of the island as a sanctuary for marine life. He also gave instruction on how to do the cleanup drive in the area. After the orientation, the science clubbers lined up across the sandbar of the island and handpicked all the non-biodegradable garbage found. Most of the wastes that were collected were plastic items such as drinking water containers, Styrofoams and plastic wrappers.
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| Science Clubbers' first batch handpicking mostly plastic wastes along the island's coastline |
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| Second batch picked up the remaining nonbiodegradable wastes |
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| The nonbiodegradable items collected are sorted. The wastes were all placed back in the sacks and brought to the mainland for proper disposal. |
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| Science teachers enjoy their lunch with some LGU officials. |
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| The truly amazing Island of Buluan. This picturesque view of the island was taken as the group was leaving the place. |
After the cleanup activity the students washed their hands and prepared their lunch. Before going back to the mainland, the science clubbers enjoyed bathing in the cool waters and making sorts of fun in the white sand of the beautiful island of Buluan.
