Proclamation No. 1412-A: ESTABLISHING A CRITICAL HABITAT AND ECOTOURISM AREA WITHIN THE COASTAL LAGOON OF LAS PINAS AND PARANAQUE
MALACAÑANG
Manila
PROCLAMATION NO. 1412-A: AMENDING PROCLAMATION NO. 1412 DATED 22 APRIL 2007, ENTITLED “ESTABLISHING A CRITICAL HABITAT AND ECOTOURISM AREA WITHIN THE COASTAL LAGOON OF LAS PINAS AND PARANAQUE
Proclamation 1412 dated 22 April 2007 is hereby amended to include the following:
SECTION 2. All relevant departments and instrumentalities under the Executive Branch shall cooperate to undertake the following within the scope of the Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area and its periphery:
1. Ensure that reclamation in the periphery of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area shall not impede the ecological function of the lagoon and its small islands, mangroves, salt marshes and tidal areas as breeding, feeding and roosting place for marine and terrestrial wildlife;
2. Undertake all reclamation in nearby areas in a way that would help restore and ensure shellfish and fish productivity;
3. Ensure existing mangrove, mudflats and ecosystems are preserved and/or not built over, and are kept in a condition that will support natural growth of indigenous and or naturally occurring wetland plants critical to the survival of wildlife and natural ecological functions;
4. Maintain a minimum 15% of the 1,500 total area of the Bay City (Boulevard 2000) project consisting of existing wildlife habitats and protect their characteristics as such, including but not limited to maintaining native plants and original ecosystems and ensuring their viability as wintering, foraging, breeding, roosting, and nesting areas for waterbirds;
5. Ensure that biodiversity component is included and strengthened in all Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmental Risk Assessment Processes for development projects.
SECTION 3. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Shall convene and chair a Manila Bay Critical Habitat Management council composed of representatives of the following:
1. The Philippine Reclamation Authority, Whose representative shall act as Vice Chair of the Council;
2.NGOs with technical capacity and proven ecological biodiversity management capability and track record in the area;
3.The Department of Tourism;
4.The City Government of Las Piñas and Parañaque;
5. People’s organizations with a direct stake in the area.
SECTION 4. The Council shall have the following:
1. Prepare and cause the implementation of a Critical Habitat Management Plan, approved by the DENR Secretary, which will include a Master Plan to establish criteria and guide development in and around the area according to universally established and scientific principal to ensure protection of critical bird habitats and an Ecotourism Business Plan to ensure sustainable tourism and management, and to promote environmental awareness and education in the area;
2. Ensure integrated and sustainable management of the area for the protection of all waterbirds wintering, foraging, breeding, roosting, and nesting, within the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area and similar areas to be established within Manila Bay;
3. Assess other areas for purpose of establishing additional important waterbird areas in each province of the Bay in accordance with the Manila Bay Action Plan and including the relevant LGU’s in the council as they are established;
4. Ensure strict compliance with this proclamation through the incorporation and consideration of the requirements herein in the design of any future development projects, and in the master and development plans of the local governments and other concerned agaencies.
SECTION 5. The DENR to be assisted by other council members, shall under take ground truthing of the above-stated coordinates at the soonest possible time.
IN WITNESS HEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 31st day of January in the year of our lord, Two Thousand and Eight.
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