SA pagdiriwang ng bansa sa Earth Day, ipinahayag ni Senator Cynthia Villar na inilunsad ang “LPPWP@15 Mobile Photography Contest,” on-site competition para sa amateur photographers.
Itinatampok sa photo competition ang tema ng Earth Day celebration sa taong ito na “Invest on Planet Earth.”
Sinabi ni Villar, chairperson ng Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, na ipakikita sa photo contest ang kagandahan at biodiversity ng Las Pinas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP).
Kabilang ang LPPWP na dating tinatawag na Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) sa “List of Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.”
“It was then known as LPPCHEA. Now, we call it as the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP). It was proclaimed by the Philippine government a critical habitat on Earth Day 15 years ago (April 22, 2007) through Presidential Proclamation No. 1412, “ ayon kay Villar, kilalang environment advocate.
Sa pagpasa sa Republic Act No. 11038 o ang Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (E-NIPAS) Act noong June 22, 2018, idineklara ang LPPWP na legislated National Protected Area.
Simula noon hanggang sa ngayon, sinabi ng senadora na napakarami ng pangyayaring kinakaharap ang LPPWP kabilang na ang bantang reklamasyon.
“But our resolve and commitment to keep the Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in our ountry thriving and safe from damages and threats, is still strong,” kanyang paniniyak.
“I am sure the photographers will find a lot of subjects or inspiration for their pictures in our wetland. The migratory and endemic birds, mangroves forest, the native trees, the now pristine shoreline, and of course its corner of the Manila Bay teeming with fish now,” sabi pa ng senadora.
Ang LPPWP ay 175-hectare nature reserve sa timog ng Manila Bay na may 35 ektaryang mangrove forest. Santuwaryo ito ng 82 wild bird species mula sa China, Japan at Siberia.
Nagsisilbi ring tahanan ang LPPWP na tinagurian ding “Last natural bastion in the Metropolis” sa may tatlong endangered o vulnerable bird species–Black-Winged Stilt, Chinese Egrets at Philippine Duck.
Ipinagmalaki ng senador na naging magandang santuwaryo at sentro ng biodiversity sa urban setting ang LPPWP dahil sa kanilang pagsusumikap.
“Truly, a rare find nowadays amidst the concrete jungle that our cities have turned into,” giit ni Villar.
Pinasalamatan niya ang kanilang partners lalo na ang DENR National Capital Region at LPPWP Protected Area Management Board sa suporta at tulong para mapanatili ang LPPWP sa forefront ang LPPWP sa mga aktibidades at programa. Kabilang sa aktibidades ang on-site photo competition.
“We hope that many photographers will participate in the competition.”
