DENR, 5 provinces want Verde Island Passage declared protected area by law


At a glance

  • (DENR PHOTO)


The Verde Island Passage (VIP), a globally recognized area of the center of marine shorefish biodiversity, must be declared as protected area by law, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga and governors of the five provinces said.

The decision to make the call was made during a meeting between Loyzaga and Governors Hermilando Mandanas of the province of Batangas and Presbitero Velasco Jr. of the province of Marinduque wherein they  discussed the threat posed by the recent oil spill to the VIP.

“This highest level of protection for what is touted as the center of the world’s marine biodiversity will keep VIP as a sanctuary to thousands of marine species and off limits to business activities that will threaten its pristine ecosystem,” Loyzaga said in a statement.

The DENR noted that the VIP, which is part of the Coral Triangle, is regarded by experts as the “center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity” in the world. It supports nearly two million people through employment and other benefits and is home to over 300 different coral types, 170 different fish species, and thousands of marine critters like sharks and turtles.

The agency noted that the marine corridor is surrounded by the provinces of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon.

According to Loyzaga, the VIP is currently a marine protected area, but the governors wanted it to be a legislated protected area.

“That will involve five provinces moving together to get this whole area legislated. Why is it important? Critical reefs, critical seagrass beds, mangroves, fisheries, these are spawning areas for fish, livelihood is dependent on that, and it has an implication on climate change as well,” the environment secretary said.

On April 25, Loyzaga met with the board members of the Verde Island Passage Marine Protected Area Network and the Law Enforcement Network to discuss the creation of a VIP-wide Disaster Prevention and Response Plan.

“Considering its mandate, the DENR is committed to strengthening the protection and management of the VIP as a priority conservation area,” she said.

The DENR said it was agreed upon that the DENR shall call for an immediate meeting to activate Executive Order 2006-578 establishing the National Policy on Biological Diversity to include other national government agencies and local government units.

As such, the DENR said it will explore options for claims from the international oil spill contingency funds, and convene the interim Protected Area Management Board for the legislation of VIP as a protected area.

“Since the early part of 2020 just before the pandemic, there are a number of proposed development projects like submarine cable/pipe laying and jetty construction, to be implemented within the globally significant VIP. With this, there is a need to study what possible regulations may be imposed to ensure that there is a balance between development and conservation,” said Loyzaga.