The Senate’s approval on third and final reading, of Senate Bill No. 1536, seeking to strengthen the protection of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP), has brought attention to the critical role wetlands play in the global village.
Wetlands sustain biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and support livelihoods. Despite covering only six percent of Earth’s surface, wetlands harbor 40 percent of all plant and animal species and provide essential services, such as flood control, water purification, and food security for over a billion people.
Unfortunately, wetlands are among the Earth’s most threatened ecosystem, disappearing three times faster than forests due to urbanization, pollution, and climate change. “In just 50 years — since 1970 — 35 percent of the world’s wetlands have been lost. Human activities that lead to loss of wetlands include drainage and infilling for agriculture and construction, pollution, overfishing and overexploitation of resources, invasive species and climate change,” according to a United Nations statement.
Every year on Feb. 2, the United Nations leads the commemoration of World Wetlands Day to raise awareness about the significant role of the wetlands.
In the Philippines, there are eight internationally recognized wetlands under the Ramsar Convention – the LPPWP, Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary; Naujan Lake National Park; Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary; Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park; Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park; Negros Occidental Coastal Wetlands Conservation Area; and Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands.
These Ramsar sites highlight the nation’s critical role in global biodiversity conservation.
The LPPWP, located in Metro Manila, is a unique ecosystem comprising tidal marshes, mudflats, mangroves, and shallow waters. It provides habitat to at least 5,000 birds of 159 species, including the endangered Philippine Duck and Chinese Egret. Beyond its ecological significance, the park serves as a buffer against flooding and storms for Metro Manila residents and supports the livelihoods of 300,000 fisherfolk in Manila Bay.
Senate Bill No. 1536, authored by Senator Cynthia Villar, proposes a three-kilometer seaward expansion from the current shoreline boundary to preserve the park’s ecological integrity and safeguard its biodiversity from the pressures of development activities. This measure will be a significant amendment to Republic Act 11038, the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (ENIPAS), which already designates the LPPWP as a protected area.
By establishing a buffer zone, the bill aims to protect the park’s ecosystems and ensure the free flow of water from interconnected rivers, such as the Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Zapote Rivers. The mangrove forests within the park act as natural shields against disasters, while also supporting fisheries crucial for food security in Metro Manila.
Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, said that with the bill’s approval, senators take on their patriotic as well as their global duty to ensure that all steps were taken to fulfill international commitments under the Ramsar Convention, the World Heritage Convention, the Convention on Migratory Species, and the ASEAN Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, among others.
Governments and private sectors must collaborate to protect and restore these vital ecosystems. Enforcing existing environmental laws, expanding protected areas, and investing in green infrastructure are crucial steps. Community engagement and education are also essential to change the perception of wetlands from wastelands to invaluable resources.
As the Philippines takes pride in its Ramsar-designated sites, the approval of the LPPWP Protection Act sets a precedent for future conservation initiatives. It reminds us that wetlands are not just ecological treasures but vital to our survival and well-being.
On World Wetlands Day, may we renew our commitment to safeguarding these lifegiving ecosystems for generations to come.
