DENR eyes setting up marine lab on Pag-asa

The Philippine flag flies on Pag-asa Island.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) plans to set up a marine research station on Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in Kalayaan town, Palawan province.

After her visit last week, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said they discussed the partnership between the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau and the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) on the establishment of a “DENR marine research station on Pag-asa island.”

The DENR team visited the research station of UP MSI, which is conducting field and oceanographic surveys to monitor the immediate environment around the island.

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“Scientific studies have established that the marine ecosystem in the Kalayaan Island Group is a critical biodiversity area and is crucial for the sustainable supply of fish and coral larvae in the Philippines and the region,” the DENR said in a statement.