RP Lauded For Protecting Coral Reefs
Joel dela Torre – The Global Environment Facility lauded the Philippines for protecting the Coral Triangle with environment-friendly initiatives.
The GEF also promised to support the programs implemented by the government to ensure food security amid the challenges posed by effects of climate change.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the GEF praised the country for its high absorptive capacity in carrying out projects pertaining to biodiversity, climate change, protection of marine life in international waters, and other initiatives on the sustainable management of the world’s natural resources.
Yap presented at least three approaches to protect coral reefs, rich marine life and the livelihood of small fisher folk during President Macapagal-Arroyo’s recent working visit to the United States.
He initiatives involve a comprehensive plan for the Verde Island Passage, considered as “the center of the center” of the world’s marine biodiversity with the highest number of species. The area spans fives provinces from Luzon.
The other initiatives include a project that would help prepare small fisher folk for the adverse effects of climate change while the third one assesses the vulnerabilities brought about by this global phenomenon on the country’s resources through a rapid alert system.
Comprising 178 countries, international institutions, private sector groups and nongovernmental organizations, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.
Protecting The Corals
Saying there is no higher calling than the protection of the environment, President Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday rallied the support of the leaders of countries in the Coral Triangle to “keep it in good health.” “The Coral Triangle is potentially the world’s most important refuge for marine life. For too long, we have let our environment become degraded, our natural resources diminished, our social contract with nature destroyed,” the President said in her speech at the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security in Manado, Indonesia.
Aside from the Philippines and Indonesia , Malaysia, Timor Leste, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are the other countries in the Coral Triangle. The President said everyone has a “moral obligation to ensure that the beauty and bounty of the land, air and sea remain for the rest of time.” “This is not an either-or-proposition. This must be a win-win solution to not just stopping the degradation but also improving, restoring and enhancing our ecology.
We rely on the sea for food, jobs and pleasure. Let us not destroy this resource,” she said. Mrs. Arroyo said the CTI should also be brought to the attention of the United Nations and stressed the need to call on all countries particularly the major industrialized and developed nations to do their share to preserve the environment. Also during the summit, the Asian Development Bank and Global Environment Facility committed a $4.6 million aid of the $25.6 million for the protection and preservation of the coral reefs of the Coral Triangle countries.