30/01/2025
SENATE APPROVES BILL EXPANDING PROTECTION FOR LAS PIÑAS-PARAÑAQUE WETLAND PARK
The Senate has approved a bill strengthening protections for the Las Piñas Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) by establishing a three-kilometer buffer zone to conserve biodiversity and mitigate environmental threats.
Senate Bill No. 1536, or the LPPWP Protection Act of 2025, seeks to extend the wetland park's boundaries from the current shoreline, reinforcing conservation efforts for the migratory and resident bird species, fish, mollusks, and mangroves that inhabit the area.
The senators emphasized the urgent need to shield LPPWP from external pressures, particularly the potential impacts of reclamation projects.
LPPWP, a 181.63-hectare wetland park, is home to approximately 5,000 birds across 82 species, including the endangered Philippine Duck and Chinese Egret.
It also harbors vital fish species, mollusks, and 23 varieties of mangroves.
A 2018 report by ornithologist Arne Jensen estimated that between 171,500 and 208,500 waterbirds from 90 species congregate in Manila Bay during the winter season, three-fourths of them being migratory.
Addressing Environmental Threats
The senators underscored that LPPWP faces significant risks from proposed reclamation projects in Manila Bay, citing a 2021 study by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB).
The study found that reclamation activities exacerbate coastal erosion, sedimentation, and flooding in Metro Manila's built-up areas while altering the intertidal mudflats of LPPWP.
"The enactment of this bill into law will ensure that the land and water ecosystems of LPPWP are well-preserved and managed, said Senator Cynthia Villar, the bill's sponsor.
She added that the three-kilometer buffer zone would enhance conservation measures by:
1. Protecting mudflats and shallow water habitats, which serve as critical foraging sites for migratory birds and nursery grounds for fish.
2. Strengthening the ability of the LPPWP Protected Area Management Board to regulate activities within the expansion area, preserving the coastal ecosystem's natural balance.
3. Aligning with the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan (MBSDMP) and ERDB's findings on the adverse effects of reclamation on water circulation and tidal movement.
4. Improving flood mitigation efforts to safeguard vulnerable coastal communities.
Strict Protection Measures
Under the proposed law, land owned by the Philippine Estates Authority, also known as the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), within the LPPWP will be transferred to the DENR to facilitate conservation, protection, and ecotourism development.
The bill strictly prohibits activities that could damage the wetland's ecosystem, including:
- Commercial exploitation of non-renewable resources within LPPWP and its buffer zone.
- Reclamation projects unless deemed necessary for national interest.
- Fishing during peak spawning seasons to protect marine biodiversity.
- Any activity that disrupts spawning areas or alters the wetland's ecological integrity.
(File photo courtesy of LPPWP)