Amid the growing tension and threat of maritime conflict over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), environmental activist group Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) renewed the call to declare the region as a maritime peace park.
“With the climate crisis now at humanity’s doorstep, the critical habitats in the West Philippine Sea face three-fold risks of ecological degradation, climate vulnerability, and maritime conflict. Amidst the election campaign, we must push our future leaders to commit to declaring the WPS as an international marine peace park to demilitarize and conserve the vulnerable area,” Leon Dulce, national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE said in a news statement.
This as tension continues to escalate in the area, with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reporting that a vessel from the China Coast Guard (CCG) coming alarmingly close to one of its patrol ships in a “close distance maneuvering” incident on March 2.
“Our country’s recent initiatives to study new species or restore ecosystems in West Philippine Sea will be for naught if we do not stop infrastructure projects and other destructive activities by China. We need new leadership that will stand up against China’s aggression and work for peace and sustainability in the region,” he said.
Dulce noted that in 2016, an emergency motion was filed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that “all States and authorities in this region suspend exploitation of natural resources, prospecting, or other activities, pending the study of how to establish marine protected areas in the South China Sea [West Philippine Sea] and Coral Triangle.”
“If we truly want peace in the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea, then we must work harder to push for the creation of marine peace parks and sanctuaries in the area. Sadly, biodiversity is the least talked about environmental concern during the campaign season,” Dulce said.
The group’s fact-check study came out examining the positions and track records of presidential and vice presidential candidates on environmental concerns. It highlighted that the positions on extractives and destructive projects were most notable. Biodiversity conservation, however, was the least priority.
“We must continue to pressure candidates to talk more about the looming destruction of ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea. We call on voters to elect leaders who will stand not just for national sovereignty over our natural resources, but also for the conservation of our country’s biodiversity,” he said.
Image credits: AP/Rolex Dela Peña