A University of the Philippines Los Baños study has assessed the marine resources in the West Philippine Sea, showing declines in coral reefs and gains in mangroves between 2015 and 2020.
Researchers completed two projects under the Re-INVEST initiative from 2022 to 2025. Coral reefs fell by 10.5 percent, seaweed by 8.1 percent and seagrass by 6.5 percent. Mangrove forests grew by 6,001 hectares.
Hard coral cover reached low levels at four of six sites, including the Kalayaan Island Group. The study valued fish species at P1.58 billion and mangroves at P25 billion for carbon sequestration.
Asa Jose Sajise of UPLB said the findings should trigger policy action. The team recommended localized valuation guides and better monitoring tools for marine resources.