CYNTHIA VILLAR on SAVING CRITICAL HABITAT & ECOTOURISM AREA

Former Congresswoman and now Senatorial Candidate Cynthia Villar expressed delight over the inclusion of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

LPPCHEA is the 6th site in the Philippines designated as such.  It was included on the list on March 15.

Misis Hanep-Buhay stated that, "The inclusion of LPPCHEA on the  List of Wetlands of International Importance is very good news indeed.  We should be proud of the recognition, and at the same time, we are encouraged even more to protect it."

Despite being declared as critical habitat in 2007 by Proclamation No. 1412, there are existing plans to reclaim the area.

We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Villar as the voice of opposition on the planned 635.14-hectare Manila Bay reclamation project which will also affect LPPCHEA.  She filed a petition for Writ of Kalikasan on March 16 against the said project.  

"I have repeatedly talked about the catastrophic effects that the proposed Manila Bay reclamation project will bring about - including the damage to the bird sanctuary as well as to the mangrove forest and marine habitat.  The worst of which, is that it will cause severe flooding in 37 barangays in Bacoor, 11 in Parañaque and 17 in Las Piñas.  Floods with a depth of as much as 5.12 meters or equivalent to a two-storey high building," Villar cited.

Being a resident of Parañaque City, I am very grateful to Mrs. Cynthia Villar for all her efforts in saving the only bird sanctuary in an urban setting --- dubbed as the 'last bastion'.

Kudos!