Panaon Island Seascape strengthens safeguards for whale sharks and corals

by Miriam G. Desacada

Tacloban City-One year after the Panaon Island Protected Seascape (PIPS) was declared a protected area, the law is no longer just on paper – it is being brought to life.

On International Whale Sharks Day, marine conservation group Oceana joins local governments and island communities in marking the first anniversary of Republic Act 12238, which safeguards roughly 60,000 hectares of some of the world’s most climate- resilient coral reefs and critical feeding grounds for the whale shark – locally known as tiki-tiki.

For the locals and tourists frequenting Panaon Island, the tiki- tiki or whale shark is the star of the show. The sight of its massive, dotted form swimming across the island’s pristine waters is what keeps many tourists coming back, with frequent sightings even close to shore.

“One year down, a lifetime to go! The Panaon Island Protected Seascape law is coming to life, through the incredible teamwork of local governments, national agencies and stakeholders. Their passion and stewardship are the tide that will lift our fisheries, biodiversity and the coastal livelihoods for generations,”  said  Von Hernandez, Oceana Vice President.   

POLICIES FOR THE FUTURE

Within a year of the PIPS declaration being signed into law (Republic Act 12238), the seascape’s governance and management structures have been put in place. The multi-stakeholder Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) has been established, and its Executive Committee has already approved the Protected Area Management Plan (PAMP)- a science-based, community grounded blueprint for coordinated enforcement, ecosystem resilience and sustainable ecotourism.

The PAMP was developed through the collaboration of Oceana, Southern Leyte State University – Bontoc Campus, the DENR, the local governments of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, and San Ricardo, and the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte. 

The planning process involved consultations with local communities and stakeholders and gathered the commitment of national government agencies and non-government organizations to make sure the plan is grounded on both science and realities on the ground.

THE SEASCAPE

PIPS is part of the world’s 50 priority reefs–classified as likely to withstand the impacts of climate change. Its waters are rich feeding grounds not only for the tiki-tiki but also for other large marine vertebrates such as green sea turtles and hawksbill sea turtles. The rare and endangered blue whale has also been sighted inside the seascape, a testimony to its health.

Pintuyan Mayor Ricarte Estrella, whose municipality is a known whale shark interaction site, affirms the commitment of the local government to ethical tourism and marine conservation. “As Pintuyan is known for its whale shark interactions, the implementation of Panaon Island as a protected seascape has helped protect and maintain our marine ecosystem. A healthier ecosystem supports more plankton, which is the primary food source of whale sharks. When the marine environment thrives, whale sharks are more likely to stay in our municipal waters, which in turn supports our community livelihoods,” said Estrella

FISHERFOLK AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP

The fisherfolk in Panaon Island are partners with local governments in marine conservation.  Through their support for community-managed marine protected areas and fishery reserves, they have helped foster a strong culture of stewardship that laid the foundation for the establishment of the Panaon Island Protected Seascape.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to establish a Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) on the island to support the day-to-day management and implementation of the seascape. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through its Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project have begun supporting initiatives on sustainable livelihoods and coastal resource management, while opportunities for support from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are being explored.

‘GO SLOW’ PROVISION

A landmark provision in RA  12238 mandates speed limits for vessels traversing PIPS waters – a measure designed to protect whale sharks and other marine megafauna from injury, disturbance and death, particularly along migratory pathways and critical feeding zones.

Section 8 of the law directs the DENR, Philippine Coast Guard and other enforcement agencies to adopt appropriate speed regulation policies.

“The implementation of the Panaon Seasape plan is a testament to what happens when national agencies, local leaders and island communities paddle in the same direction to turn our vision of a living, breathing sanctuary into reality. Together, we are building a legacy of abundance and coastal resilience,” said Hernandez.