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Friday, March 29, 2024

Villar: Wetlands need protection

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Noting that there is still no single Philippine legislation that deals specifically on wetlands, Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday filed a bill that seeks the protection of wetlands.

Villar, head of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, underscored the need for a concise policy statement on wetlands to be adopted at the national level due to its importance.

The senator filed her proposed measure, Senate Bill 2036 or the “National Wetlands Conservation Act,” on February 2, which is the “World Wetlands Day.” The theme of this year’s celebration was “Wetlands and Water.”

The Convention on Wetlands was also signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. The Philippines is a Contracting Party in the only international treaty focused on the wise use and conservation of wetlands. As a Contracting Party, the Philippines is committed to adopt and implement laws, policies, and plans to promote the wise use of wetlands.

Senate Bill 2036 “seeks to guide all concerned national government agencies and local government units in adjusting their sectorial or local policies, plans, and programs to be consistent with wetland conservation and wise use”. Macon Ramos-Araneta

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“Some LGUs have made efforts to protect and conserve the wetlands in their areas. But the efforts should be on a national scale and all-encompassing to cover all the wetlands, even those not in the Ramsar list and lesser known ones,” Villar said.

Villar’s bill aims to enhance current efforts to raise awareness on the importance of wetlands as the “cradle of biodiversity”.

According to Villar, the role of wetlands cannot be taken for granted but instead promoted.

Villar has been behind the continued protection of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park. It was earlier saved from the threat of reclamation. It is now thriving and is considered the “last remaining natural bastion in Metro Manila” with mangroves forest, native trees, and bird sanctuary.

In the Philippines, there are seven wetlands that have been declared as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

These are the Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Cebu, Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur, Tubbataha Reefs Natural in the Sulu Sea, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan, Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, also known as Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, and Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area.  

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