The Senate climate change committee has pressed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to develop a major marine conservation program, particularly on coral restoration since only five percent of corals in the country are still in ideal condition. Sen Loren Legarda, committee chairman, said the program, like the DENR's successful National Greening Program (NGP), should be launched as soon as possible since coral reefs are the food basket fish. Under the DENR's NGP, it would take about 20 years to reforest 7.2 million hectares of denuded forests, according to DENR Secretary Ramon Paje.

Casayuran, M. B. (2015, September 20). DENR pressed to develop marine conservation program ASAP. Manila Bulletin, p. 8.