Villar welcomes signing of law declaring 94 new protected areas
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.
Villar said the number of protected areas covered by the measure have increased from 13 to 107 or a total of 3 million hectares.
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.
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
