Church leaders urged the public and policymakers to take bold action in safeguarding the Verde Island Passage (VIP), citing Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ as a moral and spiritual guide in confronting the environmental crisis affecting the biodiversity-rich marine corridor.
“This is not only a matter of biodiversity; it is a matter of conscience,” said Fr. Joseph Randel Katigbak, Director of the Archdiocesan Ministry on Environment in the southern Philippine archdiocese of Lipa.
In his opening remarks at a multisectoral dialogue held April 30 in Batangas City, Katigbak warned of the mounting threats facing the VIP, including industrial pollution, fossil fuel exploration, illegal fishing, and climate change.
“We all know that it is not just a treasure for the provinces surrounding it, but a treasure of the entire world, as it is the ‘center of the center’ of marine biodiversity on the planet,” he said. “With that blessing comes responsibility—not just to use it, but to care for it and give it the attention it rightfully deserves.”
Drawing from Laudato Si’, the 2015 encyclical by the late Pope Francis, Katigbak reminded participants that “this is not just an environmental issue; at a deeper level, it is about humanity.”
He emphasized the need to embrace “integral ecology,” which ties environmental protection to social justice and the dignity of future generations.
“Our indifference to things begins when our hearts become corrupted by selfishness. Indifference begins in the corruption of the heart of man,” he said. “Let us fight for our seas. Let us fight for life. Let us fight for the Verde Island Passage—not only for ourselves but for generations to come.”
Fr. Edwin Gariguez, lead convenor of Protect VIP, echoed this call and urged political aspirants and policymakers to support the designation of the VIP as a protected area under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“At a time of extreme ecological and climate crises, protecting the VIP is a matter of survival. This marine corridor is a lifeline to 2 million Filipinos; ensuring its protection also ensures a stable source of their food and livelihood,” Gariguez said.
“While progress has been made, not only through this event but also through years-long fight of communities and civil society, the road ahead is still long,” he added. “We hope that this call to action for our leaders, policymakers, and political aspirants to prioritize the VIP and other vulnerable ecosystems in the country in need of protection.”
The event, themed Piliin ang VIP, was jointly organized by the Center for Ebergy, Ecology, and Development, Protect VIP Network, De La Salle Lipa, and Caritas Philippines.
It gathered fisherfolk, community leaders, civil society groups, and scientists in Lipa City and was held concurrently with the Our Ocean Conference in Busan, South Korea, where international organizations pushed for a “Fossil-Free Ocean.”
One key concern raised was the significant drop in fish catch linked to the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in the VIP.
Martha Vergara, Deputy Head of Oceans and Climate at the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), said the Verde Island Passage is “considered the ‘Amazon of the Oceans’ and one of the most important marine habitats on the planet.”
“It is not just a treasure for us Filipinos but also for the global community,” she said. “Protecting this critical marine corridor brings us closer to the 30×30 pledge to conserve 30% of Earth’s terrestrial and marine habitats by 2030—helping ensure food security and livelihoods for coastal communities, strengthening climate resilience, and preserving marine resources for future generations,” she said.
