Let’s defend PH protected areas
PROTECTED areas, as the phrase implies, are supposed to be places defended when violated.
But in the Philippines, a recent environmental tragedy in Bohol shows our protected areas are defenseless.
I was in Bohol a few years before the pandemic struck and I saw its wonders – the Alona beach, Loboc River, and of course the Chocolate Hills.
A quick look at the Chocolate Hills immediately told me they are so precious they must be very much protected.
However, we were all appalled to discover recently that a commercial resort has been constructed at the magnificent tourist attraction.
How did it happen?
We are still confused as to why a resort suddenly rose at the Chocolate Hills — a world heritage site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and a protected area — because there’s too much finger-pointing at present.
But even before the Chocolate Hills dilemma could be resolved, more reports of protected areas in the country being violated are starting to be heard.
Alleged exploitation or defacement of other protected areas aside from the Chocolate Hills has been revealed by no other than our senators who plan to probe the matter.
They identified such other protected areas like the Upper Marikina River Basin in Rizal province, Siargao Island, Bohol, and the Mt. Apo Natural Park.
And there could be more unreported violations and exploitation in other protected areas, leading to their degradation.
The Philippines is said to have a total of 248 protected areas. Of this number, 114 have been formally legislated.
There is concern these areas may not be receiving the necessary level of protection to preserve their integrity as protected areas.
It was opined that while policies, laws, and regulations for the protected areas were already established, there also appears to be a deficiency in their implementation.
So it’s essential to examine the management practices, the issuance of tenurial agreements, and the adequacy or absence of protection mechanisms provided to each of the country’s protected areas.
This is to ensure that the original intentions and wise foresight in their establishment are not undermined, thereby securing a sustainable future for the present and future generations.
It was recalled that the occupation and unauthorized construction of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. within the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape was flagged last year by the Senate.
An update was also sought on the reports of violations of environmental laws in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape which allegedly started in 2020.
Meanwhile, a privilege speech by a senator raised a concern on the presence of illegal structures and alleged unlawful activities in Mt. Apo Natural Park in Davao.
If these revelations are true, then we must act together to stop these crimes against our protected areas.
We must defend them.
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