The Verde Island Passage (VIP), one of the country’s marine treasures, has received invaluable help from the Lopez Group, which organized an 18-member team of citizen scientists. Clean energy leader First Gen Corp. and nonprofit sister organization ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) partnered to mobilize the time in Lobo, Batangas as an additional initiative in support of a long-term program, co-pioneered by both Lopez-led organizations, to help preserve the marine ecosystem in the VIP. First Gen and AFI have integrated the citizen scientist approach into the Lobo Reef Monitoring Program, a component of the wider Project Center of Center or the so-called Project COC initiated 20 years ago by First Gen for VIP’s marine ecosystem protection, First Gen said in a statement.

Gonzales, I. (2024, July 7). Citizen scientists mobilized to protect Verde Island Passage. The Philippine Star, p. B2.