The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), University of the Philippines (UP), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have launched an underwater research expedition in the Kalayaan Island Group to establish baseline biodiversity data from February 22 to 28.
According to the PCG, the study focuses on assessing the diversity and structure of seaweeds, mollusks, and other benthic invertebrates, documenting the distribution of seagrasses, conducting mollusk surveys, and mapping priority reef restoration sites around Pagasa Island.
Commodore May Marfil, PCG Deputy Chief for Marine Environmental Protection, described the initiative as a prelude to coral reef and marine ecosystem rehabilitation in the West Philippine Sea. The effort aligns with the PCG’s mandate to protect marine environments, recognizing their vital role in national sustainability.
The research comes amid ongoing territorial disputes, with China maintaining claims over nearly the entire South China Sea—a stance overruled by the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines.