Villar pushes more protected areas

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Cynthia Villar wants six more ecologically vital areas to be declared protected under the country’s National Integrated Protected Areas Systems (NIPAS).

Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on environment, natural resources and climate change, filed Senate Bill 278 or the proposed Mt. Pulag Protected Landscape Act, SB 2280 or the Banao Protected Landscape Act, SB Bill 2279 or the Tirad Pass Protected Landscape Act, SB 1713 or the Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape Act, SB 2277 or the Sicogon Island Wildlife Sanctuary Act and SB 2276 or the Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape Act.

In her omnibus sponsorship speech, the senator cited the urgency of securing the perpetual existence of all native plants and animals until the future.

“Human activities have a profound impact on all components of the natural environment particularly the effect of increasing population, resource exploitation and industrial advancement,” Villar said. “It is critically important to protect and maintain the natural, biological and physical diversities of the environment.”

The senator said Congress was able to strengthen the protection status of 13 ecologically important areas through individual legislations.

There are currently 107 protected areas in the country, which are classified as national parks.