THE country’s National Integrated Protected Areas Systems (NIPAS) has been expanded with the approval in the Senate on final reading of five local bills. All these measures seek to declare the ecologically vital areas under the protective mantle of the NIPAS.
Approved were House bills that seek to protect the Banao landscape in Balbalan, Kalinga; the historic Tirad Pass area in the towns of Gregorio del Pilar, Quirino, Sigay, Cervantes and Suyo in Ilocos Sur; and Naga-Kabasalan forests in the municipalities of Naga and Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
The Senate also passed the Mt. Pulag Protected Landscape Act in the municipalities of Kabayan, Boko and Buguias in Benguet; Tinoc, Ifugao and Kayapa in Nueva Vizcaya; and the Mt. Arayat Protected Landscape Act in Pampanga.
‘Several “protected areas” such
as those in Upper Marikina in
Baras, Rizal are even hosting
a resort complete with swimming pools and other facilities.’
Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairwoman of the Senate environment committee, said passage of the measures into law would expand the conservation and protection of the nation’s rich biodiversity.
Under the NIPAS Act, she said Congress was able to strengthen the protection status of 13 ecologically important areas such as the Batanes Group of Islands and Islets in Batanes; the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in Isabela; Bangan Hills National Park in Nueva Vizcaya; and the Banahaw and San Cristobal Protected Landscape in Laguna and Quezon.
The senator also pointed out that the 2018 E-NIPAS law, which created the 94 compilation protected area, has also brought the total legislated protected areas to 107. Villar said there are still many areas in the country that remain under-protected such as wetlands, marine sanctuaries, tropical forests, watersheds and wildlife sanctuaries.
This legislative intervention to protect and preserve the environment is as good only as its implementation. Several “protected areas” such as those in Upper Marikina in Baras, Rizal are even hosting a resort complete with swimming pools and other facilities. Armed men working for the businessmen behind this illegal forest encroachment even attacked forest rangers, resulting in a court case.
The incident happened recently in the Masungi reforestation project of a foundation-partner of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, where rangers keep watch over a 2,000-hectare forested area that has been prone to encroachment. This effort to protect the environment needs not only new laws, but strict and thorough enforcement.
