Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and the Committee on Agriculture and Food, underlined the need to end the escalating problems on plastic pollutions and to protect biodiversity during the twin celebration of the 11th anniversary of the establishment of Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Eco-Tourism Area (LPPCHEA) and 2018 Earth Day. The events were held at the 175-hectare Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, the only wetland existing within Manila Bay and one of six Ramsar wetlands of international importance in the country.
The Las Pinas-Parañaque Critical habitat and ecotourism area hosts swamps and mangrove forest that provide a habitat for some migratory bird species including the black-crowned night heron, Chinese Egret, Philippine duck, and the common moorhen. It is threatened by pollution and coastal development projects such as the ecologically destructive dump-and-fill projects commonly referred to as ‘reclamation’.
The anniversary was commemorated through a talk and exhibit on plastic pollution, and a coastal clean-up activity, and participated by government officials, schools, Oceana and other non-government organizations. The celebration aimed to gather support from the public in preserving the 175-hectare Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park.
Adhered to the objective of protecting the marine biodiversity and habitats, and the livelihoods of artisanal fisherfolks dependent on a vibrant ocean, Oceana Philippines expressed its full support to the endeavor to protect biodiversity and reduce plastic pollution, which is a massive threat both to LPPCHEA and the health and resiliency of our natural life support systems.
