The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is currently working hand-in-hand with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) to preserve the biodiversity of the “five gems’ of the Philippines.
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga said the so-called “five gems” of the country are Siargao, El Nido, Coron, Boracay, and Puerto Galera.
“We are already working with the Department of Tourism and the DILG to actually work on what we call the five gems. The five gems include Panglao, Siargao, El Nido, Coron; also of course our Boracay and Puerto Galera, I should add that as well. So, we’re looking at how we can preserve these areas,” she said during a televised briefing at PTV4 on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
Loyzaga said that is also crucial to protect livelihoods as the government seeks to protect the Philippines’ biodiversity.
“What we want to do is in fact make sure that the arrangements with government are in order and according to law, and that’s where our coordination with the DOT and with the DILG is very important as well as with the Department of Justice,” she added.
Loyzaga said the environment department has allocated P600 million for the agency's biodiversity management projects this year, including the enhancement of the marine research station and the conservation of threatened species.
The DENR chief said they have allotted P500 million for the enhancement of the marine research station and P100 million for the conservation of threatened species.
According to her, the “first five” threatened species in the Philippines are the Philippine Eagle, Tamaraw, Dugong, Philippine and Palawan Cockatoo, and marine turtles endemic in the country.
“Importanteng-importante ang wildlife po natin and the ecosystem in which they live (Our wildlife and the ecosystem wherein they live are very important),” she said.
The Philippines, she said, is home to a large number of unique species due to its extreme megadiversity, making it crucial for maintaining both “global biodiversity and essential services.”
As many countries recognize the Philippines’ biodiversity, the DENR chief stated that most of the foreign funding coming to the agency is biodiversity-related.
“Mga 270 million US dollars na pumapasok po sa atin in terms of our foreign funds and projects, ingat na ingat po ang biodiversity doon (Around 270 million US dollars came to us in terms of foreign funds and projects),” she said.
“Alam naman po natin na biodiversity is linked to climate, it’s linked to food, it’s linked to water (We know that biodiversity is linked to climate, it's linked to food, it's linked to water).”