VerdeIslandPassagesuffersto man-madecalamity

The worldʼs center of the center of marine biodiversity Verde Island Passage, is under serious threat, primarily due to an oil spill left behindbythesunkenMTPrincessEmpress,March20.

Specialists in marine science voiced their worry that the oil spill would reach the Verde Island Passage due to the ocean current The Northeast Monsoon, which is blowing the oil leak toward Naujan and Pola, Oriental Mindoro, is the only thing preventing this from happening, as said by Oceanography Expert Cesar L Villanoy on March 14 during a Senate hearing

According to the Protect Verde Island Passage (Protect VIP) campaign network, man-made disasters must serve as an "eye-opener" to the miseries the Verde Island Passage has long experienced, regardless of its economic and ecological worth. In a statement, Governor Fr Edwin Gariguez criticized the company responsible for the incident

Aside from that, the Verde Island Passage remains threatened due to future Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects Environmentalists cautioned, however, that what the government views as a solution to the nation's energy security and transition issues would have an irreversible effect on the Verde Island Passage.

Due to other significant issues such as overpopulation, pollution, overfishing, illegal and destructive fishing, exploitation of marine life, and destruction of habitat, Verde Island continues to be in danger

Anya Mari Casas, a student from Grade 9 - Modesty, shared her insight on solutions regarding the current troubles of the VIP, "Some of the best ways to solve the current issues of the Verde Island Passage are to educate and to conserve As a bridgetine, we can do these practices and help improve livelihoods and our biodiversity"