LILOAN, Southern Leyte – Southern Leyte Rep. Christopherson ‘’Coco’’ Yap has filed a bill placing Panaon Island under the protection of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (NIPAS).
Yap, together with Southern Leyte Rep. Luz Mercado, filed House Bills 4095 and 3743 as an important step towards addressing the threats to the condition of coral cover in the island at the tip of Southern Leyte.
The proposed measure was discussed when Yap convened national government agencies to collaborate with local government chief executives on the issues and concerns raised about the recovery program, activities, and projects following the devastation caused by typhoon ‘’Odette’’ last year.
"It was not just a plain choice but we have the data stating that Panaon Island is part of the coral triangle in Southeast Asia that has corals with hundreds or thousands of endemic species," he said.
He said that the declaration of Panaon Island as a protected seascape entails facilitating the benefits due to the people on the island and Southern Leyte.
For the province that is on the pathway of strong typhoons entering the country from the eastern seaboard, the protection of the coral cover, seabed, and mangroves is a glimmer of hope for an abundance of fish catch for their livelihood and improved food and nutrition security for their families, Yap added.
"Panaon Island is a priority reef, which means it can withstand the impacts of climate change but it is sensitive to manmade distractions, that is why we need inter-agency and community-based programs."
Government agencies on the national and local levels are expected to collaborate with solutions and interventions to deter man-made threats to the people’s life support system and mitigate the harsh impact of climate change on their safety and survival.