PRO-environment advocates recently wrapped a 25-meter wall with a mural calling for urgent action to protect a biodiversity hotspot, the Verde Island Passage (VIP) in Batangas province.
The said VIP was even the main shipping route between the Port of Manila and the Visayas and Mindanao in the south.
“This passage is the busiest sea lane in the Philippines,” according to TJ Alcantara, co-convenor of the group, adding a strait that separates the islands of Luzon and Mindoro, connecting the South China Sea with the Tayabas Bay and the Sibuyan Sea beyond.
“For sustainable leadership and governance centered on people and the environment, dirty energy should not have a space in the next administration,” said Alcantara.
Housing over 60% of all known marine shore fish species in the world and thousands of other kinds of sea creatures, Alcantara added the passage is extremely rich in marine biodiversity and it has been called the “Center of the Center of Marine Shore fish Biodiversity.”
The biodiversity hotspot, unfortunately, faces many threats, including climate change, pollution, and looming destruction from a fleet of new proposed fossil fuel projects in Batangas – a matter that citizens and government leaders alike should address, according to the youth of ECOSILAK – Youth for VIP.
He explained that the province is home to five operating fossil gas power plants and site for eight new fossil gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants and seven new LNG terminals.
The impacts of the fossil gas facilities “will trigger even worse scenarios, and will gravely hurt local livelihoods that are dependent on the health of VIP,” according to Alcantara.
“There is always space for young people to participate in solution processes, and we encourage them to use their talents to send the message across to more people,” he said.
“Just in time for this mural painting initiative, there is news of an outbreak of the coral-eating crown of thorns starfish in Batangas – a situation brought about by disturbances in natural marine life systems, and increasing sea surface temperature due to climate change exacerbated by various anthropogenic activities,” said Avril De Torres, Research, Policy, and Law Program Head of think-tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED).
De Torres said marine life in VIP is “in peril” due to the expansion of fossil gas facilities in Batangas.
With this mural, the youth are bringing the VIP to Batangas City in hopes it can help raise awareness, especially among other youth, on the importance of VIP, the marine life in it and the many gifts it provides, and the threats that it also sadly faces.
“Pinapakita namin na ang kapangyarihan ng kabataan ay isang malaking weapon sa community. Youth can bring great impact and changes to our community,” said Hanna Mazo of ECOSILAK-Youth for VIP.
“This mural is not just a mural, we are here together as youth who act to give awareness to the VIPs we should take care of, ” said Mazo.
Renowned climate activist and muralist AG Saño encouraged the youth to use the art and their craft to engage in various social, political, and environmental issues.
“May matinding climate emergency, at mga scientists na ang nagsabi na we have just a few years to solve the problem. Panahon na para isulong natin ang clean energy, at kabataan ang concerned dahil kinabukasan nila ang haharap sa mas malalaking problema kung hindi natin magagampanan ito,” said Saño.
Saño added that his mural and the gathering of young people are important because this is where advocacy begins, and they use art well for the issue of VIP care.
“There is always space for young people to participate in solution-making processes, and we encourage them to use their talents to send the message across to more people, ”said Saño.
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