Press Release
31 March 2022
Environmental activist group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) renewed the call today to declare the West Philippine Sea as a marine peace park, citing the recent flaring up of tensions with the China Coast Guard (CCG).
“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 West PH Sea as an international marine peace park to demilitarize and conserve the vulnerable area, ” said Leon Dulce, national coordinator of Kalikasan PNE.
Tensions continue to escalate in the area, with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reporting that a vessel from the China Coast Guard (CCG) came 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 PH 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,” said Dulce.
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,” lamented Dulce.
Last week, a 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, however putting biodiversity conservation as 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,” ended Dulce. #
