FACES Visits the Verde Island

Did you know that fisher folks in the Verde Island not only face threats on their livelihood from gas development, but also from large-scale fishing, after recent 2024 Philippines Supreme Court ruling opened up municipal waters to commercial fishing?

FACES has been in reflection after our FACES #ProtectVIP delegation to the Philippines, and we are ready to take some strategic action! Our delegation of board and advisory board members went to Batangas and the Verde Island this past January, and met with partners Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) and Center for Ecology, Energy, and Development (CEED), and community members fighting fossil gas development on-the-ground in Batangas.

FACES Board and Advisory Board members met with community members and fisher folk impacted by natural gas development in Batangas and Verde Island. We heard from many local leaders how the pollution from gas plants and petrochemical facilities has dramatically impacted their health and livelihoods. During the Protect VIP trip to the Philippines we met with many community members like leaders from the Santa Clarity Barangay of Batangas who are fighting for clean air and water, against dangerous gas plants on the fence line of their community.