Final Episode of Protected Areas Series Features Verde Island Passage

Senator Loren Legarda invites everyone to watch the final episode of the documentary series Our Fragile Earth: Protected Areas of the Philippines, featuring the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor, on Saturday, February 24, 7:45 a.m., on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel.

“The Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor is a 1.14 million hectare stretch of water along portions of the provinces of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon. It is located right in the middle of the Coral Triangle with the highest concentration of marine species in any region of the world. It is believed to be the ‘center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity in the world’,” said Legarda.

“The Verde Island Passage is an important source of livelihood for over 7 million people who engage in fishing, aquaculture and tourism, among others. It is an important passageway for both commercial and industrial ships travelling from Manila or Batangas going to the southern parts of the country and vice versa. It is a vital resource for the country but we must not abuse it. It is a delicate treasure worth conserving and protecting for the millions of Filipinos who depend on it and for the future generations,” she added.

The Verde Island Passage is not a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992, but Legarda has filed a bill seeking to declare certain portions of it as Marine Protected Area and Eco-Tourism Zone. The bill also seeks to create an Inter-Agency Task Force that will formulate policies, rules and regulations that will ensure the protection and conservation of the ecosystem, environmental and marine life and resources of the Verde Island Passage.

The protected areas documentary series was narrated and conceptualized by Legarda, directed by Brillante Mendoza and produced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“This series aims to educate citizens on our protected areas, which are critical in conserving our biodiversity that is essential to our existence and survival. Through this documentary series, Filipinos will learn more about our protected areas—the richness of these areas and the challenges in conservation. We want Filipinos to appreciate the unique natural heritage that we have and enjoin everyone to protect them,” said Legarda.

Protected areas are identified portions of land and water set aside by reasons of their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation. There are 240 identified protected areas in the country.

Our Fragile Earth: Protected Areas of the Philippines airs every Saturday, 7:45 a.m., on ANC, with replays every Sunday, 1:45 p.m.