DENR assures Villar critical habitat will be protected from reclamation

A ranking environment official has given the assurance that one of the world's important wetlands located in Metro Manila will be protected from the threats of reclamation.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Government Corporation and Public Enterprises last Tuesday, Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna, OIC-Director, Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assured Sen. Cynthia Villar that the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat Eco-Tourism Area (LPPCHEA) will be spared from any planned reclamation.

LPPCHEA has been identified as one of the areas that will be affected by the planned reclamation in Manila Bay of proponent cities Las Piñas and Parañaque and contractor Altech, Inc.

The 175-hectare habitat is a protected area by virtue of Presidential Proclamation Nos. 1412 and 1412-A . It is listed as one of the world's most important wetlands in the world in the Ramsar List along with the Tubbataha Reef in Sulu and the Underground River in Palawan.

Cuna said environmental considerations were taken up in the issuance of the project's Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

He said one of the conditions they required prior to project implementation is to seek the approval of the Manila Bay Critical Habitat Management Council and the Biodiversity Management Bureau.

"If they do not fulfill the condition, ma'am, they can be penalized for that and the ECC can be canceled or suspended eventually," Cuna told Villar.

Cuna also agreed with Villar that the reclamation project should be suspended if it will damage the critical habitat.

"That is what we want to hear from you. I cannot understand that they will be penalized only and the project will not be suspended because it is not a matter of correcting things that they have done. It is a matter of survival of the critical habitat," Villar said.

Cuna said he will choose to protect the critical habitat over the reclamation project.

LPPCHEA boasts of a mangrove forest, lagoon, beach and collection of endemic trees. It serves as sanctuary for dozens of bird species, including migratory birds from as far as Siberia. It is also a resting area for the Philippine duck and Chinese egret.

"Our DENR should be consistent, you are there to protect the environment. You are not there to make financial gains," Villar said.