The Senate has approved the Panaon Island Protected Seascape Bill (Senate Bill 2617) on its third reading, marking a significant step toward declaring the waters surrounding Panaon Island in Southern Leyte a protected seascape under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). The bill, designed to safeguard the island’s biodiversity and promote sustainable resource management, covers 62,478.50 hectares of waters across Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, and San Ricardo.
Panaon Island boasts of pristine coral reefs, the endemic Philippine duck (Anas luzonica), and the endangered whale shark (Rhinchodon typus). It is also recognized as one of the world’s 50 priority reefs resilient to climate change impacts, highlighting its ecological significance.
The legislation mandates the creation of a comprehensive management plan to protect critical habitats such as coral reefs, seagrasses, and mangroves while advancing biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.
Principal authors Representatives from the 1st and 2nd District of Southern Leyte, Luz Mercado and Christopherson Yap, along with 106 co-authors, including Speaker Martin Romualdez and Natural Resources Committee chair Elpidio Barzaga, Jr., spearheaded the bill in the House. Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, authored the Senate version. Complementing these efforts, Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado issued an executive order in March 2023, declaring the island as a protected seascape.
The final step now rests with the President’s signature to formalize the national protection of this ecological treasure. (DYbañez, Source: Oceana)
