UNDERWATER ECOSYSTEM Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) inspect the coral reefs around Verde Island in Batangas in this photo taken last month. According to the PCG, the coral reefs remain “healthy and in safe condition” following the leak of industrial oil from the sunken MT Princess Empress some 100 kilometers from the island. (PHOTO COURTESY OF PCG-SOUTHERN TAGALOG)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and five provincial governments are pushing for a law to make the Verde Island Passage (VIP) a protected area.
DENR Secretary Antonia Loyzaga said that while the VIP is currently classified as a marine protected area, governors from surrounding provinces want it to be protected and covered by the legislation.
“This highest level of protection for what is touted as the center of the world’s marine biodiversity will keep VIP as a sanctuary to thousands of marine species and off limits to business activities that will threaten its pristine ecosystem,” Loyzaga said in a statement.
Loyzaga had met with Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas and Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr. to discuss the Oriental Mindoro oil spill that affected the VIP.
The DENR said that Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon surround the VIP. They would need to unite to protect the area legally.
“That will involve five provinces moving together to get this whole area legislated. Why is it important? Critical reefs, critical seagrass beds, mangroves, fisheries, these are spawning areas for fish, livelihood is dependent on that, and it has an implication on climate change as well,” she said.
For a law to be passed, the DENR said that it will activate Executive Order 2006-578, which states that the agency must “develop and promulgate rules, and regulations for the establishment of critical habitats within key biodiversity areas which are known to harbor habitats and ecosystems critical for the survival of threatened, restricted-range, and congregation species, and provide the guidelines for their management and protection.”
The Oriental Mindoro oil spill began on February 28 when the MT Princess Empress sank in the waters of the province, affecting the livelihood of thousands of people.