Many Filipinos are worried that the last remaining mangrove ecosystem in Metro Manila will not survive the onslaught of business interests that are all out to make much money from this piece of marine ecosystem from which the name “Maynilad” was derived.
A business firm was reported to have been issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate to erect structures that could cause the disappearance of the last mangrove ecosystem from Manila Bay along the coasts of Parañaque and Las Piñas.
It is an irony that the very government department charged with the responsibility of protecting the environment (DENR) should be the one that gives the approval for its ultimate destruction!
In the face of much uncertainty, there is a chance that the mangroves will survive.
This week’s news that former Rep. Cynthia Villar and her allies have opposed the move to convert an already-stressed piece of nature into man-made structures intended to earn much money has been received with a sigh of relief by many Filipinos.
Representative Villar and her group have carried the legal fight to the Supreme Court, opposing the conversion and other man-made changes, arguing that the mangroves perform essential natural services and functions for the people of Manila; these services and functions must be placed on higher priority for the welfare of the people.
As former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno expressed to the writer, the people of Manila should enjoy the human right to a healthful environment.
Manila Bay has lost practically all of its mangroves, which have been converted into fish ponds that are becoming less and less productive over time.
What remain along the coastal areas of Bulacan and Pampanga provinces, for example, are sickly mangroves.
Even the mangroves of Metro Manila are no longer original or primary; they are second growth mangroves needing more care and enhanced planting to increase the species diversity.
In fact, research is needed to determine how species-rich these mangroves are. Although the animal life (except bird life) in these mangroves is not exactly known, it is probably substantial, and contributes to the fishery yield harvested by gleaners.
This yield is influenced by the large amount of organic material contributed by the leaf litter of the mangroves.
The Protected Areas & Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) and bird clubs have lists of the hundreds of bird species in the mangroves and associated estuarine areas.
Many of these birds are migrants visiting the Philippines during the northern winter months, and which attract wildlife enthusiasts and tourists.
Physical alteration of the mangrove area will render it unattractive to wildlife, and severely reduce its tourism value.
One important consideration is the role of mangroves in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Sometime ago, I pointed out that the main reason Typhoon Pedring spared the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas from damage was because of the mangroves that served as first line of defense against wave action.
Representative Villar has referred to this protective function of mangroves in opposing the application of the business firm.
In summary, we are for the protection and conservation of the Manila Bay mangroves, and we fully support the advocacy of former Rep. Cynthia Villar and her group.
