Villar seeks to declare Panaon Island in Southern Leyte a 'Protected Area'

CITING the potential destruction of the large-scale habitat of Panaon Island in Southern Leyte, Senator Cynthia A. Villar wants to declare it a protected area.

"Despite the presence of extensive coral reefs and vibrant fish communities, the abundance and biomass of commercially important species show signs of overfishing," noted Villar.

Due to this, Villar filed Senate Bill No. 1690 to be known as

"Panaon Island Protected Seascape Act of 2023".

Villar said that based on the records and suitability assessments by the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), there are still numerous sites in the country that should be declared 'protected area' and one of them is the Panaon Island Seascape.

The Panaon Island Seascape , which is in the southern tip of Southern Leyte, is under the jurisdiction of four municipalities- Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan and San Ricardo.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources noted that Panaon Island is known to have good to excellent coral reefs.

"With 41% of the coral reefs surveyed (11 of 27), it is estimated to have greater than 50% hard coral cover - a rarity in the country nowadays.

"Reef-associated fish communities at the different reef areas around Panaon Island were found to have moderate richness and very high abundance," Villar said.

"Endemic wildlife such as Philippine ducks or Anas luzonica and the endangered whale shark or Rhincodon typus species are frequently sighted around the island," she added.

She also stressed that Panaon Island is identified as part of the 50 priority reefs in the world that will highly likely withstand the devastating impacts of climate change. Hence, the urgent need for protection and conservation.

As of January 2023, there are already 114 protected areas in the Philippines that have been declared through legislation.

Villar, hiniling na ideklarang 'Protected Area' ang Panaon Island sa Leyte

DAHIL sa banta ng malawakang pagkasira ng

habitat ng Panaon Island sa Southern Leyte, nais ni Senator Cynthia A. Villar na ideklara itong protected area.

"Despite the presence of extensive coral reefs and vibrant fish communities, the abundance and biomass of commercially important species show signs of overfishing," noted Villar.

Dahil dito, inihain ni Villar ang Senate Bill No. 1690 na tatawaging "Panaon Island Protected Seascape Act of 2023".

Base sa rekord at suitability assessments ng DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), marami pang lugar sa bansa ang kailangang gawing 'protected area' at isa sa mga ito ang Panaon Island Seascape.

Nasa apat ng munisipalidad- Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan at San Ricardo ang Panaon Island Seascape na nasa dulo ng Southern Leyte.

Binigyan diin ni Villar, chairperson ng Senate committee on environment and natural resources, na kilala ang Panaon Island sa dekalidad na coral reefs.

"With 41% of the coral reefs surveyed (11 of 27), it is estimated to have greater than 50% hard coral cover - a rarity in the country nowadays.

"Reef-associated fish communities at the different reef areas around Panaon Island were found to have moderate richness and very high abundance," ayon kay Villar.

"Endemic wildlife such as Philippine ducks or Anas luzonica and the endangered whale shark or Rhincodon typus species are frequently sighted around the island," dagdag pa ni niya.

Iginiit din ng senador na kabilang ang Panaon Island sa 50 priority reefs sa buong mundo na kakayanin ang mga nakasisirang epekto ng climate change. Sanhi nito, kailangan itong pangalagaan at protektahan.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang Pilipinas ay may 114 protected areas ayon sa batas.