The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), through its Marine Science Group (MSG) joined the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR BMB) research project on the establishment of a baseline biodiversity data at the Kalayaan Island Group on 22 February 2025 and will run until 28 February 2025.

During the expedition, the PCG MSG immersed in various activities such as assessment of diversity and community structure of seaweeds, mollusks and other benthic invertebrates, documentation of the biodiversity, abundance and distribution of seagrasses on the reef flat of Pagasa Island and the conduct of mollusk surveys to better understand habitat interactions. This is also an opportunity to identify and map priority reef restoration sites for the PCG MSG.

The said activity was a prelude to upcoming series of activities of the PCG in its efforts of rehabilitating the coral reefs and other marine ecosystems of the West Philippine Sea that has faced degradation over the years.

According to Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Marine Environmental Protection, (CG-9) the initiative was in line with the PCG’s mandate on marine environment protection and in recognition of the immeasurable importance of the marine environment and resources to the Filipino people.