Sen. Cynthia Villar
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, made the call as the country observes the 8th year anniversary of the wetland’s designation as the 6th Philippine Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Monday, March 15.
The Ramsar Convention or the Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that recognizes the fundamental ecological value of wetlands. The Convention primarily seeks to curb encroachment on wetlands, its possible degradation now and in the future.
As a signatory to the Convention, the Philippine is obligated to conserve and protect the Ramsar-listed Philippine wetlands and their resources.