House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda on Wednesday, June 9 urged government to promote the preservation and conservation of the country’s coral reefs, which she said can highly sustain the basic needs of Filipinos and provide livelihood, as well.

“Beyond aesthetics, the degradation of coral reefs directly affects our daily lives, specifically our health, food supply and livelihood. Thus, we have to continuously educate our people about its vital role in the continuity of life in the sea,” Legarda said in a statement.

“They protect coastlines from wave and storm erosion and function as nurseries and habitats for thousands and marine species. It is estimated that one square kilometer of healthy coral reef can support as much as 35 metric tons of live fish,” she stressed.

Legarda, a staunch environment advocate, said the Philippines takes pride in having the second largest coral reef environment in Southeast Asia, which is home to a diverse number of species.

But destructive fishing practices and improper waste disposal contribute to the massive reef degradation that affects the abundance and health of the marine life.

“Our country, an archipelago located within the coral triangle, is blessed with a very rich biodiversity characterized by extensive coral reefs, sea grass beds and dense mangroves,” she said.

Legarda said the degradation of the coral reefs has also been detrimental to the country’s environment, affected tourism and trade and food supply.

“Unfortunately, our overdependence on our seas and on our natural environment, has greatly contributed to the worsening state of the country’s marine ecosystems, which has not only led to the extinction of marine species, but has also been detrimental to the state of the environment, has greatly contributed to the worsening state of the country’s marine ecosystems,” she lamented.

The former senator also highlighted the need for the government to mainstream its environment protection and conservation agenda especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legarda cited news reports that showed plastic wastes found in the belly of a fish bought in a market in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan.

The country’s waste management problem was even magnified due to Filipinos’ need for take-out orders and online deliveries during the imposition of the quarantines.

The mandatory use of disposable face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPEs) to minimize contamination and further spread of the COVID-19 has also aggravated the country’s waste problem.

“We need our seas for us to live, for us to sustain our basic needs and for us to improve the nation’s growth and development. Coral rehabilitation would actually be the best poverty-alleviation measure which will supply food for all Filipinos and promote more livelihoods and income,” she pointed out.

“The environment is threatened by the pressures of modern society and by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we depend on our marine environment and its resources, let these crises challenge all of us to be actively involved in the conservation and preservation of our coral reefs,” Legarda stressed.