Senator Cynthia Villar is pushing for the declaration of additional protected areas given the country’s inclusion among the world’s biodiversity hotspots or those areas experiencing high rates of habitat loss.
“We are very happy to come up with this legislation ensuring protection for more areas in our megadiverse country,” the senator said.
“We have to take action about their protection because any damage or loss will cost too much for a country such as ours,” Villar added.
The Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018 seeks to establish a comprehensive system of integrated protected areas.
Villar underscored the need for stricter implementation of environmental laws, especially in protected areas.
Under the original NIPAS Act, 13 areas were declared protected. The number was expanded to 94 under E-NIPAS.
To date, Villar said there are 107 protected areas in the country that have been so declared through legislation.