DENR seeks marine protection for areas in West Philippine Sea

MANILA — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pushing for the declaration of ecologically important areas in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to strengthen conservation efforts in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The DENR said the proposal is based on nearly a decade of marine scientific research led by Filipino scientists and biologists, who mapped biodiversity and documented environmental threats affecting the region.

On Tuesday, the DENR, through its Biodiversity Management Bureau and Ocean Environments Task Force, held a forum in Quezon City to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Ruling and highlight a decade of marine scientific research in the WPS.

Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said years of studies have identified marine habitats that remain essential to the country's biodiversity and fisheries despite the growing impacts of climate change.

He said placing these areas under protected status would enhance biodiversity conservation through scientific monitoring and sustainable management practices, helping preserve ecosystems that support marine life and the communities that rely on them.

Cuna said the Philippines' 2016 victory in the South China Sea arbitration marked a turning point in the country's ocean governance and led to the establishment of the DENR Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program.

"It was also in 2016 when the DENR entered a partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP) for the conduct of marine scientific research at the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea, the first marine scientific research mission in these ecosystems since the 1990s," Cuna said.

Since 2017, the DENR has continued working with Filipino marine scientists to study and monitor marine ecosystems in the area.

Scientists from the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines (UPMSI) resumed biodiversity data collection on Pag-asa Island after a 20-year gap and conducted assessments and monitoring of other areas, including Escoda Shoal, Dalagang Bukid Shoal, Patag Island, and Lawak Island.

The DENR said the proposed declaration of key areas in the WPS as MPAs is supported by research conducted through various marine ecosystem assessment projects, including studies on ecosystem rehabilitation, resilience, and ecological connectivity in the region.

The studies, carried out with the UP Marine Science Institute, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, National Coast Watch Council, and other government and academic institutions, examined coastal and marine ecosystems in the WPS and provided scientific support for the proposed protected areas.

Researchers documented 49 fish species that had not previously been recorded in the KIG, including eagle rays and endangered wrasses.

They also identified rare coral species and confirmed the presence of the first seagrass beds in Rizal Reef, increasing the number of verified seagrass ecosystems in the island group to two.

Cuna also cited a study led by Dr. Hazel Arceo of UP-Cebu, which found that offshore ecosystems in the KIG could potentially support an annual fisheries yield of 1,000 to 2,000 metric tons, highlighting the area's importance to the country's food security.

However, studies also revealed environmental challenges, including findings from the UPMSI that Pag-asa Island is the fastest-eroding island among those assessed, losing about 1,500 square meters of land annually over the past two decades.

The study linked the erosion to solid-based man-made structures extending from the coastline.

"As we commemorate the 2016 Arbitral Award, we also celebrate the rigorous science that led to its victory," Cuna said.

He also honored the late Kent Carpenter, who served as an expert witness during the South China Sea arbitration and presented evidence of environmental damage caused by dredging, sedimentation, and giant clam extraction during hearings in The Hague, Netherlands.

"True sovereignty is built on active stewardship. It is our duty to stand on the frontlines and mobilize our citizenry to conserve and manage our marine resources for present and future generations," Cuna said.

The DENR said it will establish nine Marine Scientific Research Stations, including one on Pag-asa Island, to strengthen biodiversity monitoring and provide scientific data for the management of the country's coastal and marine ecosystems.

Cuna assured that the DENR will continue research and environmental monitoring efforts in the WPS to guide future conservation and management programs. (PNA) -Philippine News Agency