Villar welcomes signing of law declaring 94 new protected areas | Inquirer News

Villar welcomes signing of law declaring 94 new protected areas

/ 01:10 PM July 06, 2018

Senator Cynthia Villar lauded on Friday the signing into law of a bill that would place more areas under government protection, saying it was “timely”  while noting the “heightened public clamor to protect and rehabilitate” the  country’s  popular tourist spots.

“We are very happy to come up with this legislation ensuring protection for more areas in our megadiverse country. This legislation is timely, given the  heightened public clamor to protect and rehabilitate our popular tourist spots,” Villar, chair of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, said in a statement.

Villar was  referring to Republic  Act No. 11038 or  the law expanding the National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS), which was signed  into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last June 22.  The senator was  the principal sponsor  of the measure.

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Villar  said the number of protected areas covered by the measure have increased from 13  to  107  or a total of 3 million hectares.

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Among the 94 additional areas placed  under the government’s protection according to Villar, includes the Ramsar Sites: the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, Agusan Marsh (Agusan del Sur) and Olango Island (Cebu).

Under the law, popular tourist spots and national parks  will also now  be protected  including Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, the Chocolate Hills and Panglao Island in Bohol, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Mayon Volcano in Albay, Taal Volcano  in Batangas, Hinulugang Tak-tak in Rizal, and the Palaui Island in Cagayan.

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The senator said the measure also covers internationally-recognized areas such as Mount Timpoong-Hibok-Hibok  (Camiguin), Mount Iglit-Baco (Mindoro) and the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (Tawi-Tawi) which are all ASEAN Heritage Sites

“The Philippines’ rich biodiversity is a source of pride and joy for all of us Filipinos. We actively protect and strongly defend the breadth and depth of our territories to ensure  that the future generation of Filipinos will still have the opportunity to take pride and joy in our country’s rich biodiversity,” Villar said. /muf   Syrah Vivien Inocencio/INQUIRER.net intern

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