AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee (Rep. Lee's office)

A party-list congressman who supports fisherfolks has vowed legislative action in a bid to declare the critical Verde Island Passage (VIP) a protected area.

"Suportado natin ang panawagan na ito, at makakaasa po kayo na maglalabas tayo ng panukala ukol rito pagkatapos nating sumangguni sa mga stakeholder (We support this call and you can expect us to file a proposal once we consult with the stakeholders)," said AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee in a statement Sunday, May 21.

"The VIP is crucial to our biodiversity, as well as to the livelihood of our fellow Filipinos living in the provinces surrounding it. We need to protect the VIP," he added.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), along with the governors of the provinces of Batangas and Marinduque earlier called for legislation to provide "protected status" to the VIP.

The endangerment of the VIP grabbed headlines shortly after the disastrous sinking of MT Princess Empress last Feb. 28 off the waters of Oriental Mindoro. The vessel carried 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil.

"Nakikita natin ngayon ang panganib na hinaharap ng ating mga likas na kayamanan, at kung gaano kalaking pinsala ang naidudulot nito sa buhay natin (We see now the danger that our natural resources face and the extent of damage done to our lives). This is an issue that requires utmost urgency and meaningful collaboration for us to resolve it properly," Lee said.

The VIP, which scientists dub as the center of the world's marine biodiversity, is home to more than 300 coral species, 170 fish species, and thousands of marine organisms such as sharks and turtles.

Over two million people also rely on it for their livelihood.

The damage to fisheries from the sinking of the oil tanker has reached P3.8 billion, with over 24,000 fisherfolk unable to work.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said that as of April 21, the oil spill has affected 40,897 families or 193,436 persons.

Damage to fisheries has reached P3.8 billion, with a total of 24,698 fisherfolk, mostly in Oriental Mindoro, unable to work.