PH Mission Features WPS Documentary in Geneva, Calls for Marine Environmental Protection

Philippine Permanent Representative Carlos D. Sorreta, during the MANAMo 2023 documentary film showing of “Yaman sa Kailaliman: West Philippine Sea”, reminded the audience of the duty to preserve and protect marine resources and biodiversity. (photo from Geneva PM)

GENEVA 28 September 2023 – The Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines highlighted the importance of marine environmental protection and maintaining the rule of law at sea, during a documentary film showing of “Yaman sa Kailaliman: West Philippine Sea” as part of the Philippines’ celebration of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month or MANAMo 2023. 

Opening the event, Philippine Permanent Representative Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta urged the audience to use the documentary to reflect on the Philippines’ tradition as a maritime nation, connected by the rich water and seas that bridge the country’s 7,641 islands. 

“Our water and seas, including the West Philippine Sea, continue to shape our history and identity, and their magnificent bio-diversity has been the source of life for many Filipinos in our coastal communities.”

Ambassador Sorreta stated that the marine environment in the West Philippine Sea is constantly under threat. He stressed the necessity of taking urgent actions for the preservation and protection of its marine resources and biodiversity. 

“Our recognition that we need to protect and preserve our seas shapes the Philippines’ advocacy for marine environmental protection and rule of law at sea, as guided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or the 1982 UNCLOS.” 

Ambassador Sorreta also emphasized the importance of ocean science, which can be enriched through the continued support for marine scientific research, such as those conducted in the Kalayaan Island Group by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute in 2017, 2019 and 2021.  

The three-part documentary series “Yaman sa Kailaliman” is a collaboration of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Biodiversity Management Bureau and the People’s Television Network Inc. END

For more information, visit https://www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.facebook.com/PHinGeneva/  or https://www.instagram.com/phingeneva/.