Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga joins a groundbreaking ceremony for a marine research station at Sta. Ana, Cagayan. (Photo from DENR)
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will establish a marine research station in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
The facility is meant to enhance ocean science and resource management in the area.
Sta. Ana is one of the six project sites across the country identified for the construction of marine stations.
The municipality is located in the northeastern part of Cagayan.
“Sta. Ana, Cagayan will be the northernmost site to serve as sentinel covering the Northern Philippine Sea marine biogeographic region,” said DENR Chief Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
The town is home to the Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (PIPLS).
PIPLS has a total land area of more than 2,500 hectares and seascape of over 5,500 hectares, DENR told INQUIRER.net.
The protected zone has 58 arboreal and waterbird species, including threatened Northern Lapwing; some 60 species of trees; and 16 true mangrove species, DENR said.
Loyzaga noted the corals that live in the northern parts of the Philippines are resilient to climate change.
She cited data from a study by University of the Philippines – Marine Science Institute (UPMSI).
“This project is so important that is why we are working with the UPMSI to create further studies in collaboration with the community,” Loyzaga said.
“We would like this to be a center of education so that we know why we need to protect the area,” she added.
DENR also plans to set up another marine research station in Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan.