Environmental Problems Facing Verde Island Passage
- carlosrafaelcarmon
- Aug 2, 2015
- 3 min read
The Verde Island Passage (VIP) in Batangas is a 1.14 million-hectare seascape lies between the provinces of Batangas, Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, and Romblon. It has earned the title “center of the center of global shorefish biodiversity” after a 2005 study showed it had the highest concentration of offshore fishes in the world. A recent expedition in the VIP led by the California Academy of Sciences yielded "rare and new" species, affirming Philippine seas as a hotspot for marine biodiversity. Despite its global importance, the marine corridor does not enjoy protection by national legislation, opening areas around it to mining.
Protection Needed
"As home to these aquatic gems, the Philippines should step up conservation efforts in the Verde Island Passage," said Terry Gosliner, head of expition sent by California Academy of Sciences.
"A network of marine protected areas would help a great deal. Making certain that pollutants and plastics are not dumped into the ocean will also make them safe for coming generations," he said.
Filipino marine biologist Wilfredo Licuanan, who was also part of the expedition, said, "I think there could be better coordination between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other institutions, local governments."
Despite its significance to global biodiversity, the VIP is not yet a protected area by law. It is a protected area only by virtue of an 2006 Executive Order issued by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Problems Encountered
Reports of adverse environmental impacts in the country’s richest marine sanctuary are nothing new. Maritime traffic and coastal industrial plants in the VIP have already been identified as major contributors to pollution in the passage. Developments in Batangas such as mining are presenting an even worse threat to the lush but fragile ecosystems of the VIP.
Polluting boats
A major threat is the fact that the VIP is a popular route plied daily by hundreds of passenger and cargo boats, some coming all the way from Cebu. They make their way to the Batangas International Seaport, the country's second largest port, a mere one-and-a-half-hour boat ride from the VIP.
The increased traffic of marine vessels exposes VIP to the threat of oil spills from passing ships, some of which deliver crude oil to the many oil and gas industrial plants which put up shop along the coasts beside the Passage to take advantage of the nearby seaport.
Batangas City's Industrial Zone
Batangas City, the region’s major industrial port city located in Batangas Bay (a water body contiguous to the VIP), is home to 20 major industrial establishments, including energy, petrochemical, manufacturing, and other facilities.
The city’s 325,000 residents and the remaining farmlands and fisheries in their semi-rural environs are bombarded by the industrial zone pollutants on a daily basis. Big business conglomerate JG Summit owns a number of plants in the zone, and seeks to further expand with its proposed 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant project.
Typical coal power plants have a huge water requirement for its cooling system, to the tune of 70-180 billion gallons of water withdrawn and 1.1-4.0 billion gallons consumed annually depending on the technology.
The JGS power plant is thus threatening the depletion and pollution of the city’s waters, which can very well reach the VIP. The JGS coal power plant itself will catalyze the rise of more industrial plants in the area, a clear multiplier effect on the industrial pollution the VIP is already experiencing.
Mining in Lobo
In the adjoining municipality of Lobo, Australian-Canadian large-scale miner MRL Gold, through its subsidiary Egerton Gold Philippines Inc, has been aggressively railroading its operations towards the extraction phase. Covering around 29,000 hectares of mountainous lands, Egerton has been exploring for gold and copper deposits in the agricultural and tourism town.
An environmental investigative mission in 2009 conducted by the Center for Environmental Concerns noted the presence of pyrite in the drill areas of MRL Gold, indicating the possibility hazardous acid mine drainage. Once commercial operations start, chemicals used in processing the minerals, such as mercury and lead, can also leach into the town’s water resources.
Egerton’s project area is situated in steep, mountainous areas just one or two kilometers away from the coastline. Aside from its proximity to the VIP, Lobo itself is the top-fifth of the 18 biodiversity centers in the country, with 4 marine conservation areas, a large number of terrestrial flora and fauna, and a diverse range of habitats.
Sources (sections lifted from various articles):
Dulce, L. (2015, June 10). Protecting the Verde Island Passage. Retrieved August 2, 2015, from http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/thought-leaders/95802-protect-verde-island-passage?cp_rap_source=yml#cxrecs_s
Ranada, P. (2015, July 12). In Photos: 12 'Rare and New' Species in Verde Island Passage. Retrieved August 2, 2015, from http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/96129-new-species-verde-island-passage
Ranada, P. (2013, September 24) Isla Verde: Garbage, Pollution Threaten World Jewel. Retrieved August 2, 2015, from http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/39617-verde-island-passage-pollution
Comments