The passage on third and final reading of the bill seeking to expand the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) — an internationally recognized wetland of international importance — was lauded by lawmakers on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1536, or the LPPWP Protection Act, aims to expand the park’s seaward boundary by three kilometers to ensure the ecological integrity of its land and water

The bill, which seeks to amend the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, aims to safeguard the biodiversity of the LPPWP from development pressures.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, said the bill’s passage fulfills the country’s international commitments under conventions such as the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Migratory Species.

The mangrove forest plays a crucial role in disaster risk reduction for Las Piñas and Parañaque, provides a source of livelihood for 300,000 fisherfolk in Manila Bay, and contributes to food security for Metro Manila residents.