BALANGA CITY, Bataan – About 3,000 elementary and high school students, birdwatchers and advocates from various Asian countries converged at the Bataan Peoples’ Center yesterday for the opening rites of the 10thPhilippine Bird Festival.
Senator Cynthia Villar, keynote speaker of the yearly bird festival, stressed that “we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it for the sake of our children”.
Villar relating the remarkable achievements of environmentalists from Las Pinas and Paranaque cities said the country needs more champions of ecosystem who will protect watersheds from devastation due to its relatively important role serving as habitat of birds.
The lady senator described the 175 hectares of wetland of Las Pinas and Paranaque Cities in Metro Manila as last bastion of marine sanctuary which is included in the rank of international magnitude.
“We are blessed with abundant natural resources like the presence of wetland park in our locality which protect Metro Manila from storm surges and sources of livelihood of our small fishermen”. Villar made clear in her advocacy the value of environment to the well-being of the residents and future generations.
Villar expressed hope that Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park (BCWNP) will be included in the list of wetlands of international importance, also known as Ramsal List, saying that wetlands are vital for human survival as these are among the world’s most productive environments.
The BCWNP is home to migratory birds which the City government has been advocating for protection with the program designs and implements to achieve promotional, information and communication strategies for manageable public acceptance.
