Press Release - Senator Villar Champions Wetland Conservation at 10th Asian Wetlands Symposium

Senator Cynthia A. Villar delivered a powerful message on the essential role of wetlands in addressing global environmental challenges at the 10th Asian Wetlands Symposium, held on November 25, 2024, at the Villar Hall in Las Piñas City.

The event, which was attended by delegates from the Society for the Conservation of the Philippine Wetlands (SCPW), the Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia (RRC-EA), and the Ramsar Center Japan (RCJ), focused on the theme "Wetland-based Solutions."

In her welcome remarks, Senator Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, and Climate Change, emphasized the critical importance of wetlands as the Earth's most productive ecosystems. She highlighted their vital role in biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation and adaptation, water regulation, and disaster risk reduction.

"As advocates, we are called to raise public awareness, develop innovative solutions, and implement policies that will ensure wetlands are protected, restored, and sustainably managed for generations to come," Senator Villar said.

Villar, a staunch environmental advocate, also used the occasion to spotlight her efforts in advancing legislation aimed at wetland conservation. She discussed her sponsorship of Senate Bill No. 124, or the National Wetlands Conservation Bill, which seeks to institutionalize wetland protection and wise use across all levels of government. The bill aims to strengthen policies, raise public awareness, and ensure the sustainability of wetlands, which she referred to as the "cradle of biodiversity."

"We aim to protect not just the eight Ramsar-designated wetlands in the Philippines but also the 314 inland wetlands and 2,487 river systems identified in the 2016 Atlas of Philippine Inland Wetlands and Classified Caves," she explained.

Villar also expressed concern over ongoing threats to the country's wetland areas, particularly the proposed P103.8-billion reclamation project that threatens to irreparably damage the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park. The project, she warned, would disrupt the natural flow of water in six rivers—the Parañaque, Las Piñas, Zapote, Molino, Bacoor, and Imus Rivers—resulting in disastrous