TACLOBAN CITY — At least 1,300 crown-of-thorns starfish were removed from a reef area off Barangay Himay-angan in Liloan, Southern Leyte, in a joint marine conservation effort led by the Philippine Coast Guard and local divers.

The large-scale injection and extraction activity, held on Feb.28, was carried out under the PCG’s iCare Program, a campaign focused on protecting and rehabilitating coastal and marine ecosystems.

Taking part in the operation were personnel from Coast Guard Sub-Station Maasin, the Marine Environmental Protection and Response Unit–Southern Leyte (MEPERU-SL), the Coast Guard K9 Team in Liloan, and Field Station Southern. They were assisted by the “Dap-ag” Boys, a group of local divers from Liloan, and members of Lukas Dive.

The team covered about 400 square meters of reef during the activity. Of the total removed, around 500 crown-of-thorns were neutralized through injection, while approximately 800 were manually extracted.

The crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) feeds on live coral tissue and is considered among the most destructive threats to coral reef ecosystems when its population surges.

Authorities warned that unchecked outbreaks can quickly strip reefs of living coral, leading to reduced marine biodiversity and declining fish populations—an impact that could hurt coastal communities reliant on fishing and tourism.

Marine experts underscored the importance of proactive removal efforts, particularly in biodiversity-rich areas such as Southern Leyte, which is known for its dive sites and marine resources.

The PCG said the intervention was necessary to prevent a potential outbreak and preserve the ecological balance in the area. It also reiterated its commitment to environmental protection and urged coastal communities and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and take part in conservation initiatives to safeguard the province’s marine ecosystems.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)

In Calbayog City

TACLOBAN CITY – The five wind turbines originally planned within the protected watershed of the Calbayog Pan-as Hayiban Protected Landscape (CPHPL) have been cancelled, a move hailed by city officials and environmental advocates as a major step in safeguarding the city’s primary water source and biodiversity.

In a post on his official social media account, City Mayor Raymund Uy confirmed that Vena Corporation decided to scrap the installation of five turbines inside the CPHPL following months of dialogue and advocacy from the Save Calbayog Rivers Foundation (SACRIFICE) and other civil society groups.

The wind energy project—spearheaded by Singapore-based Vena Energy through its local subsidiary, Gemini Wind Energy Corp.—involves the construction of 37 wind turbines across parts of Calbayog City in Samar and the neighboring town of San Isidro in Northern Samar.
Of the 37 turbines, 13 were initially proposed to be located within the CPHPL, a declared protected area since 1988 and currently covered under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018. The law enforces strict zoning regulations to preserve ecologically critical areas, including watersheds.

Mayor Uy emphasized that while the project has national significance and could transform the region into a renewable energy hub, environmental protection remains non-negotiable.
“Renewable energy must be pursued responsibly, with ecological stability and scientific rigor,” Uy said, stressing that development should not compromise the city’s watershed and long-term environmental security.

During the Sangguniang Panlungsod session on Feb. 24, Nichael Joseph Muncal, senior manager for project development of Vena Corporation, presented an updated technical layout as part of the company’s request for a Resolution of No Objection (RONO). The revised plan relocates certain turbines outside the strict protection zone.
However, experts urged caution.

University professor Phil Harold Mercurio called for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), detailed hydrological mapping, and a biodiversity audit to ensure that the project will not pose risks to communities and ecosystems.

Eleen Lim, president of SACRIFICE, stressed that climate mitigation efforts must not come at the expense of local environmental stability and insisted that the company must strictly avoid CPHPL boundaries.

The P20-billion project is expected to generate 304 megawatts of renewable power—far exceeding Calbayog’s current estimated energy demand of around 20 megawatts—positioning the city as a potential renewable energy hub in Eastern Visayas.

Despite its scale and economic promise, local officials maintained that environmental safeguards will remain paramount as discussions on the project move forward.

(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA )