Eastern Visayas Media Without Borders
by Miriam G.Desacada
Tacloban City– In a landmark move for marine conservation, food and livelihood security, and climate resilience, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law the bill declaring the waters around Panaon Island in Southern Leyte a Protected Seascape.
This significant development aims to [briefly mention the benefits, e.g., protect marine biodiversity, promote sustainable fishing practices, and support local communities].
The signing of this law underscores the government’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.
International marine conservation group, Oceana welcomes the enactment of Panaon Island Protected Seascape (PIPS) law, signed on August 29, 2025 that brings national focus to this island. It was identified as part of the 50 priority reefs in the world highly likely to withstand the devastating impacts of climate change.
“The PIPS Law was forged by years of scientific research, persistent advocacy, local organizing, and community participation. This policy milestone defends marine biodiversity, enhances food security, and fights poverty. In essence, this law is a declaration that the protection of our oceans is an investment in our future and collective survival. Empowering communities to manage their seas sustainably should be part of the nation’s blueprint against poverty and hunger,” said Von Hernandez, Oceana Vice President.
Citing its far-reaching impact, Hernandez said the law’s passage is also a strategic investment in climate resilience. Panaon Island’s coral reefs were found to have 60% of very good coral cover, three times above the national average of around 20%.
The PIPS spans over 61,204 hectares or 612.04 sq km covering the municipalities of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, and San Ricardo in Southern Leyte. The island is not only home to endangered species, such as whale sharks and the Philippine duck, but also serves as crucial breeding and nursery grounds for fish that sustain the local communities’ food and livelihood security.
“Daghang mu-encroach na taga-laing lugar. Gani last year naa mi tulo ka mananagat na dili taga-amo, taga-laing area nga naghimo og mga ilegal na pagpanagat (Many outsiders are encroaching on our area. In fact, last year, we caught three fishermen who were not from here, from a different area, engaging in illegal fishing),” shared Ricarte Estrella, Mayor of Pintuyan, one of the four towns comprising the island in Southern Leyte.
The new law mandates the creation of a comprehensive management plan, engaging local stakeholders, scientists, and government agencies to ensure that conservation efforts yield tangible benefits for both people and nature. This approach aligns with the country’s broader blue economy strategy, which aims to strike a balance between sustainable resource use and the protection of vital ecosystems.
“We will be more biased to environment protection because we want not only the benefits but also to sustain our advocacy to make our province progressive. For me, tourism and environmental protection should go hand in hand. It should be already accepted that the environment should be taken care of. We should not debate on that,” said Southern Leyte 1st District Representative Roger Mercado.
Hernandez pointed out, “With Panaon Island’s protection strengthened, the Philippines takes a significant step toward meeting global biodiversity targets and building a resilient, inclusive blue economy that benefits both people and the planet.”
Coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses in Panaon serve as natural buffers, protecting coastlines from storm surges and flooding while storing significant amounts of blue carbon. These ecosystems sequester carbon at rates far higher than terrestrial forests, playing a crucial role in mitigating climate change and supporting national commitments to the global blue carbon agenda.
The healthy marine habitats of the seascape also underpin small-scale fisheries, a crucial source of income and food for thousands of families living near Panaon. “Nowadays, even shellfish like sa-ang are hard to find. Many people from other barangays—and even outsiders from Cebu—have started gleaning too, disturbing the rocky shore. The seagrass beds, which are the natural habitat of lukot and shellfish, have been destroyed,” said Norminda Daduda, woman fisherfolk from Liloan.
Sustainable ecotourism, particularly whale shark watching, is becoming an increasingly important economic driver, providing alternative livelihoods and supporting community development.
Marine protected areas like the Panaon Island Protected Seascape lead to a high percentage cover of sponges that results in good coral cover under favorable environmental conditions. In the end, MPAs will help improve the livelihood of fisherfolk because of the increase in their fish catch.
The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity approved the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Included here are the 30×30 commitments that specifically call for the effective protection and management of 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by the year 2030.
The Philippine government pledged its support for the 30×30 global target and has committed to protect 35.03 million hectares, which is 15.91% of Philippine seas. Panaon Island has been identified as an important area that will significantly contribute to achieving the country’s 30×30 commitments—Miriam G.Desacada
