Protesters go biking to save sanctuary

Environmentalists take to their bikes but do not forget their trash bags as they push for the preservation of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, a sanctuary threatened by proposed government reclamation projects. CONTRIBUTED BY NILAD’S KATHY YAMZON

Environmental groups on Saturday combined for the first time two earth-friendly activities—cycling and a cleanup at the protected nature sanctuary on Freedom and Long Islands in Las Piñas and Parañaque cities—as part of their continued protest against reclamation projects being planned by the government on Manila Bay.

The bike ride-coastal cleanup event, headed by groups Nilad, Bikers Unite, Earth Island Institute and Save Freedom Island Movement, gathered 75 cyclists who rode from Bonifacio Shrine beside Manila City Hall at 6 a.m. to the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) where they were able to collect a truckload of garbage scattered along the coast.

The groups conduct regular cleanups in the LPPCHEA, said Mark Louie Aquino, 30, coordinator of Bikers Unite, to raise awareness that “there’s still islands in [Metro] Manila with mangroves [and] migratory birds.”

He added: “There are plans to put up casinos and hotels here which will affect the residents of Las Piñas and Parañaque. Even if they provide jobs, the impact on the environment will be much more damaging. Are we really going to destroy [these islands]?”

The groups came up with the idea of adding biking to the activities after realizing that many environment-conscious citizens were into the sport.

“Since we’re celebrating Earth Day this month (April 22), we combined the two activities to show that riders also have the power to help preserve the LPPCHEA,” added Aldrein Silanga, 29, Nilad’s campaign director.

The LPPCHEA is a 175-hectare Department of Environment and Natural Resources-protected reserve on the western side of Aguinaldo Highway, also known as Coastal Road.

Critics of the government’s reclamation plans for Manila Bay, as well as Laguna Lake, have expressed concern that these will lead to flooding in surrounding cities and municipalities. One such project is the Laguna Lake Expressway Dike, a private-public partnership project which proposes the construction of a new 47-kilometer road on the lake’s shoreline from Bicutan in Taguig City to Los Baños, Laguna.

Aquino said their other Earth Day activities include a forum on April 21 organized through the Luntiang Bayan initiative to be held at Miriam College in Quezon City. The following day, there will be a rally from the University of Sto. Tomas to the Mendiola Peace Arch.

At the Luntiang Bayan forum, various environmental and animal welfare groups will present their rating of candidates running in the May 9 elections—from president, vice president, senator to party-list groups—based on their environmental agenda for the country.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Metro Manila chair Mong Palatino, who is also with Nilad, said the candidates would be graded based on their positions on seven environmental issues: food security, mining, animal welfare, biodiversity, sustainable development, environment justice and climate change and disaster preparedness.

“We’re looking for a green politician —someone who genuinely cares for the environment,” added Aquino.

Palatino, however, clarified that whatever the results, the different groups won’t be coming out with endorsements of specific candidates. He said the event was created solely to make the public more aware of politicians’ electoral platforms on the environment to help them decide whom to vote for.