The country excelled, however, in Coastal Protection and Artisanal Fishing Opportunities.
The Philippines’ performance in sustainable tourism is far from glowing.
According to recent scores released by the Ocean Health Index (OHI),which “measures how well ocean systems are sustainably providing people with the benefits and services they need and desire from marine systems,” the country’s lowest OHI score was in the ‘Tourism and Recreation’ goal, which was just six out of 100.
A comprehensive survey on ocean health
According to the Ocean Health Index (OHI), a country’s overall score is determined by averaging 10 “goal” scores, which reflect the ecological, social, and economic benefits expected from “healthy” oceans.
These goals include Food Provision, which measures the amount of seafood sustainably harvested for human consumption. Then there’s Artisanal Fishing Opportunities, which measures how easy or hard it is for the fisherfolk to access ocean resources when they need them.
The index also scores Natural Products or how sustainably marine products are harvested compared to a set target. The OHI also takes into account Carbon Storage, which reflects the condition of marine habitats, indicating whether they are intact. It measures Coastal Protection by evaluating the protection of marine and coastal habitats by comparing their current area to their extent in the recent past.
Livelihood and Economies are also measured including jobs and revenue from sustainable marine-related industries. Tourism and Recreation, where the Philippines scored the lowest, measures participation in sustainable tourism in a coastal region. The OHI also measures Sense of Place or the effectiveness of efforts to maintain access to coastal and marine systems that are culturally important to people.
It also measures the Cleanliness of Waters by capturing the degree to which local waters are unpolluted by human-made causes, as well as Biodiversity or how successfully the richness and variety of marine life are being maintained.
Each goal is rated on a scale from 0 to 100, based on how well benefits are delivered vis-a-vis a sustainability target. Lower scores suggest either the potential to realize more benefits or that existing practices are compromising the sustainability of future benefits.
With the Philippines garnering a low score in the Tourism and Recreation category, it means there are unsafe or unappealing conditions due to “poverty, political turmoil, or other instabilities” and are unlikely to improve until these underlying issues are addressed.
The OHI stressed, however, that once these conditions are resolved, improvements to tourism and recreation can occur “rapidly.”
Low scores overall
Overall, the Philippines performed dismally in the index, as it takes a nosedive to 214th out of 220 in the latest OHI, with an overall score of 58 out of 100—significantly below the global average of 73. Despite a slight improvement from its lowest score of 56 in 2021, the Philippines’ latest result marks a substantial decline from scores of 67 in 2021 and 65 in 2020, as stated in an article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
This alarming ranking signals a general decline in marine ecosystem health, not just when it comes to tourism. With our stunning and diverse marine life and as an archipelago of 7,641, this should serve as a wake-up call for us to do our share in helping protect our waters.
Overfishing, pollution, and climate change place our marine ecosystems constantly under threat. This puts at risk not only local livelihood sources in the Philippines—considered a leading beach and dive destination—but also global environmental health as the country is considered a center of marine biodiversity.
Rays of light
Although the Philippines recorded a low overall OHI score, it demonstrated strengths in specific areas, giving us much needed rays of light in a dark tunnel.
Our country excelled in Coastal Protection with a score of 93 out of 100, suggesting that marine and coastal habitats, which protect against flooding and erosion, are largely intact or well-restored.
“Storm protection by coastal habitats saves lives, property and is worth billions of dollars each year. Coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, salt marshes, and sea ice act as natural buffers against incoming waves,” the OHI said.
It added: “By protecting against storm damage, flooding, and erosion, these living habitats keep people safe and can help mitigate economic loss of personal and public property, cultural landmarks and natural resources.”
The country also scored high in “Artisanal Fishing Opportunities,” achieving a 91 out of 100 rank. This indicates effective government policies and access that support local, small-scale fishing, essential for the livelihood and sustenance of local communities.
During last year’s World Ocean Day, the Department of Tourism (DOT) vowed a stronger commitment to promoting sustainable and regenerative tourism.
The agency said the initiative is centered on responsible resource management, preservation of environmental, historical, and cultural legacies, and fostering a sense of pride in Filipino heritage.
“As we mark this global effort to manage the oceans for the benefit of mankind, the DOT is committed to its unique mandate in tourism, to both promote and preserve our destinations while ensuring a memorable and meaningful Philippine travel experience,” DOT said.
In a separate statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the country is “resolute in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 14” or conserving and advocating the sustainable use of ocean, seas and marine resources.
Manalo said the Philippines also understands the fragile balance of marine ecosystems and the significant role they play and is exerting all efforts towards “finalizing an international legally binding agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).”
“Moreover, the Philippines reaffirms its dedication to the United Nations Ocean Decade — a global initiative that aims to catalyze transformative action for the sustainable use and conservation of the world’s oceans,” he added.
You can download the complete Ocean Health Index results/scores here.
