San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has called on the government and the public to protect the Verde Island Passage (VIP) from possible destruction following a plan to expand the liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal from Batangas to the VIP.
Bishop Alminaza, vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines- Social Action Ministry, expressed apprehension over the gas project which, he said, will not only cause destruction to the environment but will also affect the livelihood of small fishermen.
“In the event of an oil spill, our marine resources in the VIP will be destroyed,” the Church leader said over Radio Veritas.
“The Verde Island Passage has unique coral species and marine life. Ships that will travel along the area might cause an oil spill which will affect the environment as well as the livelihood of our fisherfolk,” the prelate said.
Bishop Alminaza called on his fellow bishops to oppose the plan and to continue to help protect the environment including the country’s marine resources.
The Verde Island Passage is a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro in the Philippines, connecting the South China Sea with the Tayabas Bay and the Sibuyan Sea beyond.[A network of ferry routes cross the passage and connect the surrounding provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon.
The 1.14 million hectare passage is extremely rich in marine biodiversity and has been called "Center of the Center of Marine Shorefish Biodiversity" with various conservation groups pushing for its nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.