Prohibit large vessels from passing Verde Island Passage — science advocates 

CALL FOR ACTION Villagers form a “human boom” along the shore of Isla Verde in Batangas City on April 21 to call for reparations, accountability, livelihood response and protection of the Verde Island Passage, almost two months after a fuel tanker sank off Oriental Mindoro and spilled oil into the province’s waters. —PHOTO COURTESY OF PROTECT VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE

MANILA, Philippines — Following the Department of Environment and Resources’ (DENR) call to declare the Verde Island Passage (VIP) as a protected area, a group of science advocates on Wednesday said that large vessels carrying hazardous materials should be barred from passing in the area.

The DENR, together with provincial governments surrounding the VIP, had called for legislation to protect the VIP after the Oriental Mindoro oil spill had reached the biodiversity hotspot.

READ: DENR, 5 provinces want ‘highest level of protection’ for Verde Island Passage through law

“Large vessels carrying hazardous chemicals, such as large volumes of oil, must be prohibited from passing VIP, and an alternative route must be determined,” said Jerwin Baure, a public information officer from Agham-Advocates for Science and Technology for the People.

In a statement lauding the DENR’s proclamation, Baure said that protecting VIP through legislation would prevent future disasters.

“This proposal to declare VIP a protected area is not only a measure to prevent future catastrophic oil spills, but also to protect this global biodiversity hotspot from destruction brought by coastal development projects,” he said.

The group also cautioned the DENR to ensure that in protecting the area by law, it should also ensure that local livelihood is still supported.

“In declaring the VIP a protected area, the DENR must ensure that the livelihood of fisherfolk will not be negatively affected. The protection of our marine biodiversity must also include the rights and welfare of fishing communities. Marine protected areas can still be meaningfully managed through proper involvement of stakeholders and end-users,” said Baure.

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