To mark the observance of the World Migratory Bird Day, Senator Cynthia Villar led the opening of a facility at the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) designed to educate and raise public consciousness about wetlands.
Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, stressed that wetlands are “critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability and to economies, among its many functions.”
This Wetland Center is our solid edifice and contribution for the Philippine wetlands,” she said.
“With our country’s archipelagic nature, we have an abundant number of wetlands that call for much-needed attention,” the senator added.
The 2016 Atlas of Philippine Inland Wetlands and Classified Caves, showed that the country has 314 inland wetlands and 2,487 river systems. Out of the 314 wetlands, there are 221 lakes, 12 marshes and swamps, nine peat lands, 39 water storage, and 31 ponds.
Villar noted however, that some Filipinos do not fully recognize and appreciate the significance of wetlands.
She specifically mentioned the case of Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park (LPPWP), which has always been facing reclamation threats.
Apart from being a Ramsar site, she emphasized Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) is a protected area by virtue of RA No. 11038 or the Expanded NIPAs Act of 2018.
The senator, a known environmental advocate, said the LPPWP is an important coastal wetland and a key biodiversity site hosting a wide range of water birds.
“Due to this, it is fitting to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day here because Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park (LPPWP).
This is an important coastal wetland mangrove that hosts at least 47 species of migratory birds using the East AsianAustralasian Flyway, which include the vulnerable migratory birds with some coming from as far Siberia,” Villar said.
The World Migratory Bird Day celebration is dedicated to raising awareness on migratory birds and their habitats and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.