Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. (Prime Infra) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to conserve and manage the Verde Island Passage (VIP) – one of the world’s most biodiverse marine corridors – through habitat restoration, sustainable resource use, and community-based conservation across Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, and Mindoro.

The agreement also underscores Prime Infra Foundation and Prime Energy’s ridge-to-reef approach, which applies innovative technology and science-based methods to protect both marine and terrestrial ecosystems within the VIP.

“The VIP is a national asset whose protection is vital not just for our environment, but for the livelihoods and well-being of our people,” Prime Infra President and CEO Guillaume Lucci said. 
 

DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the partnership demonstrates that environmental stewardship and economic growth can move in step. “This partnership commits us to concrete actions for conservation, habitat restoration, sustainable resource use, and community engagement,” Lotilla said.

DOE Secretary Sharon Garin said the agency supports the collaboration as part of its effort to ensure that energy development remains aligned with environmental protection. “The transition to cleaner sources must remain responsible and sustainable,” Garin said.

Under the MOU, Prime Infra, DENR, and DOE will coordinate research, monitoring, and conservation activities to enhance biodiversity in the VIP. The agreement also leverages Prime Infra Foundation and Prime Energy’s existing programs on watershed management and marine protection using innovative technologies and scientific tools.

The Verde Island Passage is protected under Executive Order No. 578 and is part of the National Integrated Protected Areas System. The strait is considered the “center of the center” of global marine biodiversity and supports fisheries, tourism, and coastal livelihoods across the five provinces it connects.

Prime Infra also formalized a PHP6.225-million partnership with the DENR to support its Watershed Instrumentation Program, which includes the installation of an automated weather station and environmental sensors in the Upper Marikina River watershed. The project will strengthen the agency’s capacity to monitor rainfall, stream flow, and soil conditions for disaster mitigation.

“In both partnerships, the principle is the same—by combining our strengths, we can address challenges with solutions that are practical today and resilient for the future,” Lucci said.

How can government and industry partnerships strengthen biodiversity protection in energy-rich areas?

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