DENR pushes declaration of protected areas in West Philippine Sea
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is moving to secure ecologically important areas in the Kalayaan Island Group as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
“Years of marine scientific research and expeditions have identified key ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea that are vital to Philippine biodiversity,” DENR chief Juan Miguel Cuna said.
“Further, despite climate threats, these habitats are still able to deliver significant ecosystem services for Filipinos all over the country, from fisheries to genetic resources that support the entire West Philippine Sea,” he added.
The DENR said that establishing MPAs in the area will help safeguard biodiversity through scientific monitoring and enforcement of sustainable use guidelines.
Cuna said the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau and its partners have conducted sufficient marine scientific research to support actionable conservation strategies for the delicate yet biodiverse ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea.
From 2017 to 2025, the DENR conducted biodiversity expeditions under the Coastal Assessment for Rehabilitation Enhancement: Capability Development and Resiliency of EcoSystems and the Predicting Responses between Ocean Transport and Ecological Connectivity of Threatened Ecosystems in the West Philippines Sea projects.
The studies examined the coastal and marine ecosystems of the West Philippine Sea and provided the scientific basis for the proposed protected areas.
The research was carried out in partnership with the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, the National Coast Watch Council and other government and academic institutions.
Under the Integrated Research for Biodiversity Conservation and Carbon Sequestration in the West Philippine Sea project, researchers documented 49 fish species previously unrecorded in the Kalayaan Island Group, including eagle rays and endangered wrasses.
Seagrass
The project also recorded rare corals and confirmed the existence of seagrass beds in Rizal Reef, increasing to two the number of Kalayaan Island Group sites with verified seagrass ecosystems.
Marine scientific research also highlighted growing environmental threats. A study by the UP Marine Science Institute found that Pag-asa Island has been the fastest-eroding island among those assessed, losing around 1,500 square meters of land annually over the past two decades. Researchers linked the erosion to “solid-based man-made structures jutting out of the coastline.”
“As we commemorate the 2016 Arbitral Award, we also celebrate the rigorous science that led to its victory,” Cuna said.
“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,” he added.
Direction set
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, said President Marcos’ declaration on the West Philippine Sea issue in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) has set clear and firm direction for the military in dealing with threats to sovereignty.
“The President has set the direction. The Armed Forces of the Philippines stands ready to carry out this direction from the President with courage, with honor and unwavering commitment to the constitution and to every Filipino,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said yesterday.
She expressed hope that more municipalities will declare July 12 as Victory Day, as the nation continues to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims over almost the entire South China Sea.
“Let me remind our friends and our detractors: Filipinos are a noble, kind, gracious and great race. We are not greedy. We are not racists. We are not liars,” the President said in his SONA.
In a statement, PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan also lauded the President’s acknowledgement of the PCG’s role of protecting the country’s maritime borders.
PCG spokesman for WPS issue Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela also praised Marcos for his consistent stand on the WPS issue.
“Since day one, President Marcos has been standing for our rights and that never changed,” Tarriela said. “That has been his standing policy, not to surrender our territory to any foreign power.”
Probe ‘provisional understanding’
Days after the latest Chinese aggression at sea, Sen. Francis Pangilinan has proposed a Senate investigation on the “provisional understanding” with China covering rotation and resupply mission for troops on the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
“The Senate must determine whether this arrangement is consistent with the 2016 arbitral ruling and whether adequate safeguards are in place to protect the country’s sovereign rights and ensure accountability in future negotiations affecting our maritime interests,” Pangilinan said in filing Senate Resolution 536 on Monday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomed the probe.
In a statement yesterday, the DFA said it “welcomes the opportunity to clarify matters surrounding the Provisional Understanding at the proper forum and in coordination with defense and security agencies.” — Michael Punongbayan, Andrew Ronquillo, Evelyn Macairan, Mark Ernest Villeza, Pia Lee-Brago
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