TACLOBAN CITY — Civil society leaders from the Philippines made a strong call for urgent ocean protection during the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) held in Busan, South Korea, pushing for key legislation to safeguard marine ecosystems such as Panaon Island in Southern Leyte.
Oceana Philippines and the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) led the appeal, urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately sign the bill declaring Panaon Island a Protected Seascape, and to prioritize the passage of the National Coastal Greenbelt Act.
Both measures are crucial steps toward achieving the country’s global commitment to the “30×30” goal of protecting 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030, they said.
“Panaon Island is a treasure—not just for the Philippines but for the world,” said Atty. Liza Osorio, acting vice president of Oceana in the Philippines in a press statement issued on Monday, April 28.
“It’s part of the world’s 50 priority reefs, identified for their resilience against climate change. Now, all that stands between this globally significant site and meaningful protection is the President’s signature,” she added.
Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization solely dedicated to ocean conservation, participated in a high-level side event organized by Bloomberg Philanthropies during the three-day conference which is to end on Wednesday, April 30, which highlighted leadership efforts in Asia and the Pacific toward ocean conservation, including the Philippines’ initiatives.
Panaon Island is celebrated for its whale shark tourism—an example of sustainable, community-led ecotourism—and is recognized as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) and an Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), being a critical habitat for threatened and migratory marine species.
“Our generation stands to inherit polluted waters, dying reefs, and collapsed fisheries,” said Jake Tabara, national youth coordinator of the ATM Youth Network.
“But we are not giving up. We are working hard with older generations to ensure laws like the Panaon Island Protected Seascape Act and the National Coastal Greenbelt Act are passed, to save our oceans and our future.”
The proposed National Coastal Greenbelt Act seeks to establish mangrove and beach forest zones to serve as natural barriers against coastal hazards, helping stabilize shorelines, store carbon, and provide critical habitats for marine life.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recognized these greenbelt zones as part of the country’s Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
“These policy measures can turn an ocean in crisis into an ocean of hope,” Osorio added, reflecting the conference’s theme, “Our Ocean, Our Action.”
The Our Ocean Conference is a major global event that brings together government leaders, scientists, civil society groups, and businesses to forge new commitments for ocean protection and climate resilience.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
