Senator Cynthia Villar is urging the Philippine Navy (PN) to join efforts to lift the Philippines away from its distressing position of being one of largest marine polluters in the world.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, lamented the Philippines' status as one of the world’s largest sources of plastic waste leaking into the ocean.

"I am really pleased that we gather here periodically to show our support for this wetland park- the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP), and in so doing, we are also raising awareness about the marine pollution in bodies of water and the need to find solutions in reducing these wastes, particularly plastic wastes," she told the Philippine Navy.

Villar was the guest speaker of the Civil Military Operations Group - Philippine Navy (CMOG-PN) in their 12th founding anniversary on Feb. 10.

The coastal clean-up drive at the Las Piñas – Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) is one of the anniversary activities of the CMOG-PN.

"Together, let us put our hearts and exert efforts into this. We should help each other to achieve a better environment now and in the future for the next generation," Villar said.

The lady lawmaker said she is thankful to CMOG- PN for considering LPPWP in the conduct of their environmental advocacy.

"We are blessed that we have this unique haven where we could frolic with nature in the urban sprawl of Metro Manila," said Villar who related that LPPWP is a legislated protected area under the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018, which she principally authored in the Senate.

She also emphasized that LPPWP (formerly LPPCHEA) was declared a "Wetland of International Importance" under the International Convention for the Conservation of Wetlands or the Ramsar Convention, which was ratified by the Philippine government.

The seven other Ramsar sites in the country are the Olango Island Wildlife Sactuary in Cebu, Naujan Lake National Park in Oriental Mindoro, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur, Puerto Princesa Subteranean River National 2 Park in Palawan, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in. Sulu Sea, Negros Occidental Coastal Wetland Conservation Area, and Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetland.

Villar noted that the LPPWP is a 182-hectare key biodiversity area that features two interconnected islands, lagoons, ponds, salt marches, mudflats and remarkably, a 36-hectare mangrove forest, which is the thickest and most diverse mangrove forest along the Manila Bay area with 12 species of mangroves.

It serves as an important spawning ground of fishes in Manila Bay, nursery, feeding and temporary shelter of different fish species and other forms of wildlife.

It also protects the communities of Las Piñas and Parañaque cities against flooding, storm surges and high tides aside from serving as sanctuary to around 90 species of endemic and native trees.

Because of these, Villar said she has been vigorously fighting all forms of destruction on LPPWP, including reclamation projects in Manila Bay.