CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda is eyeing to increase the number of protected areas in the country once given a chance to return to the Senate after the May 9 polls.
In an interview with Legarda during Monday night’s rally in Mexico town, she said that she will double not just the number of protected areas but also the protection accorded to such areas.
“God willing when we return to the Senate, we will double (the protected areas) and more protection. There are a lot of important places we need to protect. It’s not just protection for protection’s sake. We derive our food and resources from many of these places,” Legarda said.
A former three-term senator, Legarda has authored 10 environment laws, including the most important Ecological Solid Waste Management Law, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Renewable Energy Law and the Climate Change Act.
The lady lawmaker is also the principal author and co-sponsor of the ENIPAS Law. Since the passage of Republic Act No. 7586, or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992, and its amendments under Republic Act No. 11038, or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) successfully set aside 244 protected areas, including the 107 legislated and 13 proclaimed protected areas, all over the country primarily to sustain ecosystem services, among other non-extractive economic activities such as eco-tourism.
Legarda, who supports micro and small enterprises, was in Pampanga for a local rally arranged for members of the UniTeam slate of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
She arrived at the venue wearing her signature look. She wore a patadyong woven by women from Antique.
Legarda, who supports micro and small enterprises, and author of the law, has been providing support to the Bagtason Loom Weavers Association. She stressed the need to further provide support for micro and small industries like sisig vendors and Pinatubo ash craft makers to better assist them with much needed capital, skills and marketing support.
