Business giants Manuel Pangilinan, Ramon Ang, and Sabin Aboitiz are establishing a technical working group (TWG) together with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to protect and conserve the Verde Island Passage (VIP).
The panel would come up with a plan of action to be followed over the following five years to preserve and safeguard the marine biodiversity of the VIP.
The agreement involved the participation of major corporate entities such as San Miguel Corporation (SMC), Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., alongside government agencies including DENR and DOE.
In a report by GMA News, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said that this initiative not only highlighted the commitment towards environmental preservation but also marked a new phase of public-private collaboration that guaranteed the survival of the marine ecosystem.
Meanwhile, DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla said, “This same area of biodiversity importance is also a significant passageway for water transport…The Department of Energy underscores the critical role of modern clean energy technology in propelling inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”
It is worth mentioning that in March of this year, two of San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corporation’s (SMGP) properties, including the Ilijan Power Plant which is located near the VIP, were to receive joint investments from MERALCO PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) and Aboitiz Power Corporation (AP).
In the signing ceremony, Pangilinan said that the partnership involves testing for temperature in the area as well as water conditions that could have affected marine life.
The VIP, known as the epicenter of global marine shore fish biodiversity, spans across the provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, and Mindoro.
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