NextGen Day

Due to overfishing and the risk of the extinction of its people, Panaon Island in Southern Leyte needs to be designated as a protected area.

Panaon Island can draw shady traders due to the enormous coral reefs and numerous marine creatures there.

It was chosen as one of the top 50 reefs in the world that will be resilient to the effects of climate change.

Senator Cynthia Villar stated that “reef-associated fish groups at the different reef zones around Panaon Island were found to have moderate richness and extremely high abundance.”

Senate Bill No. 1690, also known as the Panaon Island Protected Seascape Act of 2023, was submitted by Villar, chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

The municipalities of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, and San Ricardo have control over the Panaon Island seascape, which is located at the southernmost point of Southern Leyte.

According to records and suitability evaluations conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau, Panaon Island’s seascape is one of many sites in the nation that should be designated as protected areas.

It is anticipated that more than 50% of the coral reefs surveyed had a firm coral cover, which is unusual for the nation today, according to Villar.

In the House of Representatives, Southern Leyte 2nd District Representative Christopherson Yap also introduced House Bill 4095 to include Panaon Island in the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System to safeguard the surrounding waters of the island (ENIPAS).

“The establishment of a body specifically designed for its protection would discourage commercial vessels from entering municipal seas to carry out their illegal activities with impunity and prevent the destruction of our most valuable reefs. This will ensure that our guests get what they came for or have something much better to return to, as well as allow marine life to flourish and be accessible to our subsistence fishermen “added Yap.

Also last year, the environmental organization Oceana helped the municipal governments in charge of Panaon Island pass legislation designating the marine sanctuaries and habitat as one of the nation’s protected areas.

According to Oceana, mayors submitted individual resolutions promising their support for Panaon Island’s inclusion in the ENIPAS.

A multinational advocacy group devoted to safeguarding the oceans of the world is called Oceana.

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