The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is advancing efforts to designate ecologically significant regions within the Kalayaan Group of Islands, located in the contested West Philippine Sea, as marine protected areas (MPAs).

This initiative aims to safeguard local biodiversity through scientific research, strict enforcement of sustainable practices, and long-term ecosystem preservation.

DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna emphasized that decades of marine studies have identified critical habitats vital to Philippine biodiversity, which continue to provide essential ecosystem services despite climate challenges.

To strengthen marine research, the DENR plans to operationalize nine Marine Scientific Research Stations, including one on Pag-asa Island, to enhance biodiversity monitoring and support evidence-based policymaking.Additionally, the DENR launched a children’s e-book series to educate young learners about the importance of protecting the West Philippine Sea.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also established the Alliance of Fisherfolk for Truthful Information and Narratives on the West Philippine Sea (ATIN WPS) to counter misinformation and train fisherfolk on legal and factual issues regarding the contested waters.The 2016 Hague tribunal ruling, which invalidated China’s South China Sea claims, remains a key reference point in the ongoing geopolitical context.