Senator Loren Legarda asserted her commitment to protecting the Verde Island Passage (VIP), one of the world's most critical areas for marine shorefish diversity.
During her speech at the “Mission Blue Visit to the Philippines: A Brief Dialogue with Dr. Sylvia Earle” event in Pasay, Legarda emphasized the importance of preserving precious areas such as the VIP, which spans the provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon.
“The visit of Dr. Sylvia Earle and the Mission Blue team amplifies our earnest commitment to safeguard the Verde Island Passage, a jewel of marine diversity, and allow it to flourish with the buy-in of the local communities and the local governments, and the continued support of all our partners here with us today,” said Legarda on Monday.
Dr. Earle is in the country to participate in the 2024 International Media Conference and to meet with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to learn more about the country’s initiatives on protected areas, particularly in coastal and marine regions.
The 88-year-old renowned marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer has pioneered research on marine ecosystems. She founded Mission Blue, an organization that identifies key areas of marine preservation around the world, dubbed “Hope Spots.” The VIP was named a Hope Spot in July 2023.
“It was declared a Hope Spot by Mission Blue for a reason, and I am sure that reason includes the observation by many here that the passage has demonstrated the ability to bounce back from periods of coral bleaching due to warming episodes,” Legarda says.
The Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (eNIPAS) Act, which Legarda principally authored, provides a critical framework for the protection of ecologically significant sites like the VIP. This law allows for the customization of each protected area, addressing specific concerns of local government units.
“I certainly hope the passage of the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act, a law I principally authored and sponsored, will be useful, especially to pin down the actual damage wrought by incidences like the Mindoro oil spill, despite conflicting figures from different sectors,” the four-term senator concluded.
