TACLOBAN CITY – The Layag Festival in Barangay Catbawan, Pintuyan, Southern Leyte became a rallying point on Thursday, May 22, for advocates calling for the immediate signing of the Panaon Island Protected Seascape bill, as local leaders and environmental groups underscored the urgency of safeguarding one of the world’s most climate-resilient reef ecosystems.
Speaking at the event, lawyer Nikka Oquias, marine protected area campaign lead at international ocean conservation group Oceana, urged Congress to transmit the enrolled bill and called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sign the measure into law without delay.
“The declaration of Panaon Island as a protected seascape will enable the enforcement of science-based protection strategies critical to preserving coral-rich habitats and sustaining the marine resources that support the local communities,” she said.
“Panaon Island is globally recognized as part of the 50 climate-resilient reefs. The declaration will institutionalize long-term conservation and open opportunities for local government units to access additional resources and technical support for sustainable management,” Oquias added.
Town Mayor Ricarte Estrella of Pintuyan echoed the call, appealing directly to national leaders for the swift enactment of the proposed law.
“I appeal to our lawmakers and to President Marcos Jr. to pass and sign this measure. It will not only protect the island but also help us strengthen enforcement against illegal fishing, especially by outsiders,” Estrella said.
The annual Layag Festival, themed “Sails of Heritage, Waves of Protection,” featured traditional sailboat races and marine-inspired games, highlighting the island’s deep cultural and economic ties to the sea. This year’s celebration became a platform to spotlight mounting threats from illegal fishing, pollution, and climate change, and to push for urgent legislative action.
Oceana commended the local government of Pintuyan and its partners for promoting sustainable fishing practices and raising public awareness through the festival, which has become a symbol of the island’s commitment to marine conservation.
The Panaon Island Protected Seascape Bill, approved by both houses of Congress on February 4, 2025, covers over 60,000 hectares of marine waters surrounding the island. Once signed into law, it will place the area under the protection of Republic Act No. 11038, or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act.
In preparation for the law’s implementation, Oceana has conducted workshops and consultations with stakeholders from the island’s four municipalities—Pintuyan, San Ricardo, Liloan, and San Francisco—to draft a protected area management plan and develop enforcement strategies.
These efforts are supported by the Province of Southern Leyte, the DENR Region 8, and other agencies that will form the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) once the bill becomes law.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
