A nonprofit ocean conservation organization called on current and future government officials to prioritize the health of the ocean, asking for proactive and long-term solutions when it comes to environmental protection.
Oceana Vice President Gloria Estenzo Ramos, in a news statement issued on Wednesday, said that “urgent action for environmental protection, preservation, and restoration should be at the forefront of the agenda of all our Filipino leaders, including those who are seeking national and local offices in the May 2022 elections.”
Ramos said the country, given its biodiversity, has a “strong” legal framework for environmental protection, citing ecosystem-based management from ridge to reef.
“Despite this, its fragile natural ecosystems continue to suffer from natural resource overexploitation and unsustainable development practices as implementation of our laws is weak,” she said.
Among the harmful activities she cited are dump-and-fill (reclamation) projects, pollution and illegal fishing practices. Ramos said these resulted in “serious and alarming decline of coral reefs, mangroves and fisheries resources.”
“Along with the staggering impacts of climate change, the country has to respond immediately and mainstream the health and resilience of our natural ecosystems and people by ensuring science-based management through a just, inclusive, transparent and accountable governance of the natural world,” Ramos said.
The Oceana official stressed that the country needs to ramp up its efforts in addressing environmental problems now more than ever to also prepare for natural disasters, citing the recent onslaught of typhoon “Odette” (international code name Rai).
In relation to this, the group called for a sustainable and science-based approach to fisheries management in the country.
Ramos, in doing so, said that all key stakeholders such as civil society, fisherfolk, women, youth and private sectors must be consulted in the decision-making process.
“There must be strict enforcement of our environmental laws aimed at deterring unsustainable fishing practices, destructive offshore and onshore mining activities, and unbridled development projects that continue to diminish and destroy our natural resource wealth and make us extremely vulnerable to climate change,” she added.
“In the end, the health of our environment and care for our people cannot be taken out of the equation of every leader’s approach towards a more responsive, accountable, participatory and transparent governance including that for our ocean upon which majority of our people depend on for sustenance,” she said. “It must be emphasized that ensuring a healthy, safe and resilient ocean is both a right and a duty of each citizen.”