TACLOBAN CITY – Stakeholders hope that that Panaon Island Protected Seascape (PIPS) Bill will be enacted into law the soonest time to safeguard the marine ecosystem and livelihood on the island.
Von Hernandez, Oceana’s Vice President, expressed optimism about the benefits that protecting Panaon Island will bring to its local communities. “As fish stocks continue to dwindle and the effects of climate change and overfishing become harder to ignore, the island’s residents are being offered a new path towards sustainability: science-backed livelihood alternatives that reduce pressure on the ocean while creating new economic opportunities for communities,” he said.
While awaiting President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s signature to enact the PIPS bill, Oceana has been helping the national and local governments consult with local communities.
The PIPS bill seeks to establish a legal framework for long-term conservation while permitting sustainable use zones and community-based resource management. When signed, it would formalize protection measures, strengthen enforcement against illegal fishing, and institutionalize support for alternative livelihoods.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)–Southern Leyte, in collaboration with local governments, science institutions, and fisherfolk groups, is implementing various community-based projects under the province’s “Blue Economy” agenda.
“Panaon embracing the Blue Economy is giving science, technology and innovation the opportunity to turn our seas into sources of hope, livelihood and lasting progress for the people of Southern Leyte,” Ramil Uy, Provincial Science and Technology Director of DOST Southern Leyte said.
Among the key livelihood alternatives being proposed are sea cucumber ranching, sandfish cultivation in Liloan and San Francisco, and squid processing in Pintuyan. By Marie Tonette Marticio (EV Mail AUGUST 25-31, 2025 issue)
