“Wetlands are among the world’s most productive environments. The protection of the environment also provides livelihood like in the preservation of mangroves that causes the abundance of marine products,” the senator said.
She urged the preservation of wildlife for future generations. “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children,” she said.
Villar said the country needs more champions of the environment like the WBCP who will protect watersheds as habitat of birds.
Villar was keynote speaker in the 10th Philippine Bird Festival held here from December 9 – 11. Delegates from Asian countries attended the threeday festival.
Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III and Dinalupihan town Mayor Gila Garcia welcomed the visitors.
The senator expressed the hope that the Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park be included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance, also known as Ramsar list. The Department of Tourism has included Balanga City as among the birdwatching sites in the country.
Gina Mapua, WBCP president, said climate change affects not only the migratory and resident birds but all of us. “We must protect our forests and the seashores,” she said.
She said that birds should be on trees and not in cages.
“They should be free to feed for themselves,” Mapua said, adding that there are 635 recorded species of birds and more to be counted.
“Some 235 of this number are endemic in the country, meaning they can only be found in the Philippines,” the WBCP official said.
Mapua considered Balanga City as the most successful in treating the migratory birds. “The local government unit and the community joined forces. Tortugas was preserved as wetland park where tourist arrivals rose by 425 percent. There is money in migratory birds as long as the right thing is done,” she said.
Tortugas, a seaside village in Balanga City is the site of the nature and wetland park. Along with the villages of Sibacan and Puerto Rivas Ibaba and Itaas, it has been designated as bird watching site.
