PROTECTING VERDE ISLAND. MPIC chair Manuel Pangilinan, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, San Miguel Corp. chair Ramon Ang, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures CEO Sabin Aboitiz (left to right) show the agreement for the protection of the Verde Island Passage (VIP), which they signed at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City on Tuesday (May 7, 2024). The VIP is a strait that spans the provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro, and separates Mindoro island from Luzon. (PNA photo by Leah Gonzales)
MANILA – Government agencies on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with three big conglomerates in the country for the protection and management of the Verde Island Passage (VIP).
The MOU was signed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Energy (DOE), Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV), Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) at Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.
A salient provision of the MOU requires the parties to "establish a marine science biological research station with facilities" in VIP and across the five provinces nearby, in partnership with higher educational institutions, such as the University of the Philippines System, De La Salle University, and the California Academy of Sciences.
The MOU takes effect for five years from May 7 with possible extension, and with funding from each of the five signatories to ensure VIP and the nearby provinces will thrive as a marine protected area.
It details how the DENR and DOE will partner with AEV, SMC, and MPIC to collaborate with local governments, non-government organizations, international development groups, experts, and coastal communities, among others; and commit to supporting projects that promote the conservation, protection, and enhancement of biodiversity and coastal marine resources of the VIP.
Among the MOU’s objectives are supporting clean energy transition towards sustainable and resilient low carbon development, establishing Marine Science Research Stations in the VIP to advance science, policy, and practices needed by the industry, committing to the responsible stewardship and sustainable access and use of the VIP's coastal and marine resources, and creating stakeholder platforms to ensure the welfare of surrounding communities.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said the MOU calls for the organization of a technical working group (TWG) that would work on the specific areas and programs that each of the corporations, as well as the DOE and DENR, would undertake.
“As a framework for joint stewardship and sustainable development, this historic initiative not only underscores the collective commitment to environmental preservation but also heralds a new era of public-private collaboration aimed at ensuring the longevity of one of the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems,” Loyzaga said.
The VIP is a strait that spans the provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro, and separates Mindoro island from Luzon.
The strait, spanning 1.4 million hectares, is home to more than 1,700 fish species and 300 coral species, forming a biodiversity zone that marine experts cited as the “center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity.”
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the MOU bodes well for the government’s agenda towards renewable energy.
“We express our appreciation to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, MVP Group of Companies, and San Miguel Corp. for committing to the responsible stewardship and sustainable access and use of the Verde Island Passage in pursuit of the government’s overall energy agenda that aim to facilitate access to affordable energy, ensure a reliable and resilient energy supply, and transition to clean, sustainable, and climate-centered energy resources,” Lotilla said.
The VIP serves as an important route for international ports and various oil and gas facilities.
“It has always been our goal to help safeguard our environment and uplift the welfare of the communities, in this case, the people who are dependent on the Verde Island Passage for their livelihood. Its preservation is of paramount interest and once again the Aboitiz Group, MVP Group, and San Miguel Group are working together to do our part,” AEV president and chief executive officer (CEO) Sabin Aboitiz said.
MPIC chair, president, and CEO Manuel Pangilinan, meanwhile, said they are committed to making sure that in the quest to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy, they also pay attention to safeguarding the environment and the communities.
“Our people’s welfare and future depend on our ability to harmonize these goals. But because we have committed partners in San Miguel, Aboitiz, the DENR, and the DOE, there are good grounds for optimism,” he said.
Part of the MOU’s focus is also to engage communities that depend on the VIP and improve their lives by creating inclusive platforms that enable them to sustainably profit from the strait’s natural resources.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to join forces with the Aboitiz Group, MVP Group, and various stakeholders in protecting the Verde Island Passage," SMC chair and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.
"Preserving our marine resources is crucial not just for today but for future generations. We are fully committed to this responsibility." (PNA)
