Power producer First Gen Corp. (First Gen) and the ABS-CBN Foundation, both of the Lopez Group, on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for the conservation and protection of the Verde Island Passage.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizes the group’s collaboration with the government, cementing their shared dedication to preserving what is described as a “natural treasure.”
“Batangas, where we pioneered natural gas-fired power generation in the Philippines, is now home to four of First Gen’s power plants. It was and still is incumbent upon us to do all we can to make sure our presence is not just benign but enhancing to the environment,” said Federico Lopez, chairman and CEO of First Gen and its parent firm First Philippine Holdings Corp.
“Our support for VIP also adheres to our group’s mission of forging collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future. As COC Program steward, we are optimistic that closer cooperation with the DENR and the DOE will better protect VIP’s marine and coastal areas to help sustain present and future generations of Filipinos living there,” said Lopez.
DENR secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga expressed gratitude for the Lopez Group’s renewed commitment to safeguarding the VIP, acknowledging their efforts in preserving this ecological gem for 20 years.
“This agreement underscores the Lopez Group’s unwavering support and advocacy for the conservation of the Philippines’ natural resources, particularly the vital marine biodiversity found within the VIP. By partnering with the private sector, the government aims to strengthen its initiatives to protect the ecosystem. This collective effort not only benefits the coastal communities surrounding the VIP but also ensures a sustainable environment for future generations of Filipinos,” she said.
First Gen, the country’s top producer of clean and renewable energy, including wind, hydro, geothermal, and natural gas, started its advocacy for the VIP began 20 years ago, when it co-pioneered conservation and protection activities for the VIP’s marine ecosystem through the Center of Center Program (COC).
The COC is a partnership with environmental groups including Conservation International-Philippines, and First Philippine Conservation Inc. (FPCI), a Lopez Group non-profit entity advocating a clean environment.
The COC Program, borne from the research of renowned marine scientists Kent Carpenter and Victor Springer, has since expanded to other provinces and now covers over 54 marine protected areas.
“The most important people involved in all of this are those who live by the coastlines of the VIP. They’re the ones who are most invested in protecting it, they are the ones most affected because their main source of livelihood is from it. We need to show these coastline communities what is beneath the surface so they see how rich they truly are, and they understand this is as much theirs to have but also to protect,” said Roberta Lopez-Feliciano, Managing Director of the ABS-CBN Foundation.
ABS-CBN Foundation is the non-profit organization of the Lopez Group with advocacies in child welfare, education, environment, disaster relief, and livelihood.
Loyzaga cited efforts of ABS-CBN Foundation and First Gen in the protection and conservation of the VIP.
“The initiative of First Gen is an example of using evidence- and science-based strategies for sustainable development. As I have said before, the science has to get done,” Loyzaga said.
The Verde Island Passage is the center of the Coral Triangle, the epicenter world’s marine life diversity. Dubbed the “center of the center,” the critical waterway between the Luzon mainland and Mindoro Island covers the provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, and Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.
It also serves as a busy channel for commercial vessels and ferries, a source of livelihood for fishing and ecotourism, on top of thousands of other businesses along its shoreline.
“By collaborating with all stakeholders, we can find mutually beneficial solutions that safeguard the Verde Island Passage while also ensuring reliable and resilient energy access for our people as we transition to clean, sustainable energy,” said Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.
The government’s MOU with the Lopez Group followed a similar agreement with three of the country’s biggest conglomerates – the MVP Group’s Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC), the Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV), and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) for the VIP protection and conservation.
