Earth day reflection: Villar’s advocacy for the Las Piñas-Parañaque wetland and the future it protects

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

A nugget of environmental wisdom passed on through generations, this saying has long guided Senator Cynthia Villar in her environmental work, especially in her efforts to protect and preserve the Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP). For her, protecting the environment is a responsibility that must be carried out today to ensure the well-being of future generations.

Earth Day, celebrated every 22 April, which began in 1970 as a global movement to raise awareness of environmental degradation and to promote action to protect the planet. Over time, it has become a day to reflect on the urgent need to care for the natural world and to commit to choices that support sustainability and resilience.

In the Philippines, Earth Day also marks the founding of LPPWP, a vital piece of nature in the southern part of Manila Bay. On 22 April 2007, it was declared a critical habitat through Presidential Proclamation No. 1412, the first of its kind in the country. Formerly known as the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, it was created to protect a unique stretch of coastal and marine ecosystems located along the coastlines of Las Piñas and Parañaque.

Covering 181 hectares, the wetland includes two islands, lagoons, ponds, mudflats, salt marshes and a 36-hectare mangrove forest — the most extensive and diverse in the bay area. It hosts 12 species of mangroves, including the Nilad, believed to be the origin of the name “Maynila.” The park is home to 159 species of birds, according to the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, including the Philippine Duck, Chinese Egret, and around one percent of the world’s population of Black-winged Stilts. Situated along the East Asian–Australasian Migratory Flyway, LPPWP serves as a vital stopover for birds traveling across continents. Its mudflats and mangroves also support marine life and sustain the fisheries that provide food and livelihood for communities in Southern NCR, CaMaNaVa, and parts of Bulacan.

In 2013, LPPWP was designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. In 2018, it gained further protection as a legislated protected area under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, giving it a national park status. As a national park, it must be conserved and cannot be diminished under the Philippine Constitution.

Beyond its ecological value, LPPWP serves an important role in protecting nearby communities of the cities of Las Piñas, Parañaque and Bacoor. Its mangroves and mudflats absorb rainwater and storm surges, reduce flooding, stabilize coastlines, trap sediment, and filter pollutants before they reach the bay. These natural systems help mitigate the impacts of climate change while supporting food security and biodiversity.

However, the wetland’s survival is increasingly at risk from ongoing and proposed reclamation projects within its vicinity in Manila Bay. These large-scale developments threaten to block the natural outflow of four rivers — Las Piñas, Parañaque, Zapote and Molino — making nearby low-lying areas even more vulnerable to flooding, especially during heavy rainfall and high tides. The consequences are not hypothetical. In 2023, after widespread flooding affected parts of Metro Manila, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of 22 reclamation projects and tasked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with conducting a cumulative impact assessment.

The study, carried out by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute in partnership with the Marine Environment Research Foundation, confirmed what many communities and environmental advocates had feared. Reclamation would significantly alter the natural water flow in Manila Bay, disrupt drainage systems, and leave entire areas prone to stagnant floodwaters. The research also raised alarms about increased pollution, the displacement of coastal communities, and the lack of coordination with local flood management plans. DENR Secretary Toni Loyzaga emphasized that development in such a sensitive and densely populated area must be guided by science, informed by climate risks, and focused on protecting both people and ecosystems.

These findings raise a difficult but necessary question: Saan po tayo hahantong kung magpapatuloy ang mga reklamasyon at babalewalain ang kalikasan?

Despite the threats it faces, the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park remains a model of urban conservation. Public interest has grown, with more visitors coming to experience its natural beauty, join clean-up drives, participate in birdwatching events, take part in tree planting, and engage in youth programs and educational activities. The wetland has become a place where people reconnect with nature and learn the importance of protecting it.

Its role in promoting environmental awareness and eco-tourism is supported by facilities donated by the Villars. These include the Wave Visitor Center, the Bambusetum, the composting station, and the Philippine Wetland Center, which houses the auditorium, Wetland Museum, and the offices of DENR and BFAR. Most recently, Senator Cynthia Villar successfully led the approval on third reading of Senate Bill No. 1536, which seeks to strengthen the protection of LPPWP by establishing an ample buffer zone bayward surrounding it.

This Earth Day, let us go beyond merely celebrating the founding anniversary of the Las Piñas–Parañaque Wetland Park. Let us commit to protecting its future. The park remains a refuge for biodiversity, a safeguard for nearby communities and a living legacy we are entrusted to preserve. It’s a reminder we must carry forward. As the saying goes, we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.