A state of the art Marine Scientific Research Station (MSRS) will soon rise in in Casiguran town in Aurora province.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led the ground breaking for said facility recently.
DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said station is a "step for marine science and the protection of ocean environments."
The DENR said the MSRS will stand on a 1,000 square meter lot with access to the Pacific waters at the Philippine Rise.
The facility will serve as a hub for long-term ecosystem monitoring, marine habitat research, resource conservation and science-informed policies and actions.
The agency said it will play a key role in strengthening marine biodiversity protection, food security, and the climate resilience for coastal communities.
The project will be handled in partnership with the UP Marine Science Institute, Aurora State College of Technology - ASCOT, and non-government organizations such as Daluhay Daloy ng Buhay Inc.
"The facility is part of a nationwide network of eight marine research stations being established to support the country’s shift toward a science-driven, inclusive blue economy," the DENR said.