Introduction

Senator Cynthia A. Villar, who has been leading the fight to protect and preserve the area,
is now promoting the concept “voluntourism” to increase awareness of this natural oasis amidst a
highly urbanized area.

The Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA) is a nature
sanctuary situated south of Manila Bay and along Coastal Road. Open to the general public, the
area offers visitants a welcome breather from all the noise and bustle of urban living. LPPCHEA
consists of two (2) islands—Freedom Island and Long Island—with mangroves, ponds and
lagoons, mudflats, salt swamps, and mixed beach forest all over. Established in 2007 thru
Presidential Proclamation No. 1412 as amended, LPPCHEA is the first critical habitat to be
declared in the country.

With its verdurous landscape, calm lagoons, and diverse collection of wild birds, the area
gives visitors a chance to commune with nature, study, or simply stare at life’s majestic creations.
Guests are introduced to a diverse variety of ecosystems as they take a trek inside the area. With
more than 36 hectares of mangrove forest, by far the most extensive in Manila Bay, LPPCHEA
truly lives up to its notoriety as the region’s last coastal frontier.

Objectives

1. Aims to know how to conserve and preserve the Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical
Habitat and Ecotourism Area
2. Aims to know the problems of Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habit and Ecotourism
Area

Purpose of the Study and Its Significance

LPPCHEA is a nature reserve situated south of Manila Bay. It serves as a haven for
indigenous and migratory birds. But unfortunately, it still faces the big problem that it have been
facing for a time now, development and heavy pollution. This study can help LPPCHEA withstand
its enemies (Development and Heavy Pollution) and remain a haven for both migratory and
indigenous birds.
 LPPCHEA- The data that will be acquired in the study can help LPPCHEA for strategies
to conserve its habitat and remain a bird sanctuary in Manila.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF LAS PINAS AND PARANAQUE- Since this study can
be of help in promoting the LPPCHEA, increase of tourist arrival should be expected. This can
help the Government determine the possible strategies needed for visitor. Management as well as
proper preservation of the area given the recognized problems of the area. This can give them ideas
to prevent these problems arising again.

LOCAL COMMUNITY- The study will help the local community when the LPPCHEA
is conserved and became a tourist destination. It will be a key for jobs to arise.

VISITORS- The data gathered can help and inform the visitors what are the strategies that
will help preserve the LPPCHEA and help conserve it when they visit.

THE FUTURE RESEARCHER- This study can be a guide to them in conducting a

research of the status or improvements (if there will be any) of the LPPCHEA.

The factors of the researchers that initially prompted to compose these objectives because
Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area the role it plays in the survival of
threatened, restricted-range and congregatory bird species. And as is the first critical habitat to be
declared in the country, the researchers wants to know how will it protect and maintain it and to
know what were the problems of it.

Literature review

According to “Ateneo biologists hold marine rehabilitation program” (2015), over 100
volunteer members of the Ateneo Biological Organization - eXplore. eXperience. eXcel. (BOx)
participated in the group's Marine Rehabilitation project held in January 24, 2015 at the Las Piñas-
Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA). The BOx members held a clean-up
of the beach of Freedom Island, which is unfortunately covered in an inches-deep layer of trash,
consisting mostly plastics and styro foam. Such materials are potentially hazardous to marine
organisms; animals such as sea turtles and marine mammals have died due to ingestion of these
objects.
 LPPCHEA is the only officially declared critical habitat in Metro Manila's urban environs
and as such is constantly under pressure from human activities. In fact, the solid waste problem on
Freedom Island was much more severe than it is now, and it is thanks to the efforts of a number of
other organizations like BOx that the habitat has seen this fortunate turn-around.

According to Paula Fernandez-Wulff and Hitomi Roppongi (2014), Today, LPPCHEA

faces a controversial debate over its future standing: will it remain one of the world’s most
important wetlands, or will it be reclaimed as a part of the city development project in Manila Bay?
LPPCHEA is the breeding home and habitat for a wide range of species and, as part of the East
Asian-Australasian Flyway, it is important for 15 migratory bird species during the non-breeding
and northward migration periods, supporting a large proportion of the flyway population.
LPPCHEA is also the last remaining wetland within Manila Bay, where, despite governmental
reassurances, other areas have been reclaimed and developed for commercial and industrial uses.
Interestingly, the islands that comprise LPPCHEA emerged from a Manila Bay reclamation project
half a century ago that remained unfinished and, when left unattended for a few decades,
transformed into an important habitat for many species.

The outer area of LPPCHEA and its surroundings are inhabited by families who have
gradually relocated from other parts of the country and now live on or by the water (and commonly
referred to as ‘floating communities’) as well as by a mix of immigrants and long-time residents
of the cities of Las Piñas and Parañaque, off whose shores the wetland is found. Numerous secular
and religious non-profit organizations work in the area along with the municipal governments and
other civil society organizations including locally based cooperatives and hospitals. Encouraging
the stakeholders to envision and voice the kind of development they want to see in LPPCHEA as
part of the decision-making process is vital in identifying the best strategies for addressing the
issues that currently affect the wetland.

Definition of Terms

The Following terms are conceptually or operationally defined to enhance the

understanding of the readers.

1. HAVEN- a place where you are protected from danger, trouble, etc.
2. MANGROVE- a tropical tree that has roots which grow from its branches and that grows in
swamps or shallow salt water.

3. WETLAND- an area of land (such as marsh or swamp) that is covered with shallow water.

4. SANCTUARY- Is a place where birds or animals can live and be protected.

6. MUDFLATS- flat areas of very wet soil near the sea that is covered at high tide (the time when
the sea reaches its highest level).

7. COASTAL FRONTIER- the line or zone where the land meets the sea or some other large
expanse of water; borderland.

8. LPPCHEA- Las Pinas-Paranque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area

According to Pfizer (n.d.), When soil and groundwater contamination is found, we mitigate
any immediate risk, assess the potential impact, and begin remediation activities. The vast majority
of remediation liability involves entities we acquired, not impacts we caused and in some cases,
where waste was improperly handled by disposal contractors. The notable actions they were
undertaking to preserve and restore natural resources are reserving ecosystems and involving the
community through outreach programs, restoring natural habitats following remedial activities and
conserving natural resources through water recycling and energy efficiency projects. This
literature is connected to the first objective, that aims to know how to conserve and preserve the
Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.

According to The Philippines: Metro Manila’s Wetland Faces Threat (2013), LPPCHEA
is bounded by the Parañaque River on the north and Las Piñas River on the South which covers an
area of 175 heactares consisting of mangroves, mudflats and diverse avifauna. Because of its
biodiversity, LPPCHEA was declared as a critical habitat in 2007 by Proclamation Nos. 1412 and
1412-A.

“At least 5,000 individuals of migratory and resident birds have been recorded at the site,
including about 47 migratory species such as the vulnerable Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes).
The most important of the resident bird species is the vulnerable Philippine Duck (Anas luzonica)
which breeds at the site. Records from 2007-2011 show that the site supports at least 1% of the
estimated population of Black-Winged Stilts (Himantopus himantopus) using the East Asian-
Australasian Flyway,” Ramsar stated.

Ramsar also noted that ‘the site faces threats associated with being located near densely
populated areas as waste from nearby cities accumulates along the coast and heavy metals and
other organic contents coming from residential and industrial effluents affect surrounding areas.’
This literature is connected to the second objective, that aims to know the problems in Las Pinas-
Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.

Methodology and work plan

This study is a record keeping because it makes use of the already existing reliable
documents and similar sources of information as the data source. This is similar to going to a
library. There one can go over books and other reference material to collect relevant data that can
likely be used in the research.

This is also a process of observation or qualitative observation because it uses to establish

truths that are evident to everybody.

Another methodology that was used in this study is interviewing because the researchers
need to collect in-depth information on people’s opinions, thoughts, experiences, and feelings.
Face-to face interviews are suitable when the chosen person/s can communicate through face-to-
face conversations better than they can communicate through writing or phone conversations.

Objectives Activities Responsibilities

Aims to know how to
conserve and preserve the
area
Aims to know the problem/s
of the area
Voluntary helper; Clean up Government; Schools;
drive; Tree planting; Individuals
Research
Ocular Visit; Interview Government; Schools;
Individuals

The Study

The stand of mangroves along Coastal Road when travelling to Cavite or down south, that
place is part of LPPCHEA's sprawling 175 hectares of wetland ecosystem. It has two areas which
are, the Long Island in Las Piñas and the Freedom Island in Parañaque. Breaking it down further,
the 114 hectares are composed of mud flats, 30 hectares consist of mangroves, and about 2
kilometers by the beach area.

There are interesting activities to enjoy in LPPCHEA - from birdwatching to a relaxing eco
walk along the nature trail of Freedom Island.

Wild birds are the main fascination of LPPCHEA. At any given day, guests are sure to find
birds nesting, feeding or flying around in the open. LPPCHEA serves as a haven for our feathered
buddies. Currently, there are around 82 wild bird species found in LPPCHEA, 41 of which are
migratory. Little Egrets and Black-Crowned Night Herons are some of the examples.

Another attraction in LPPCHEA is its mangrove forest – the thickest and most diverse
among the remaining mangrove areas within Manila Bay. Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees
adapted to living in salt and brackish water conditions. These trees act as a shelter, spawning, and
feeding grounds for birds and sea animals. It serves as protection for the coastal communities of
Las Piñas and Parañaque.

There are currently 11 mangrove species growing in the area. “These mangroves serve as
spawning and nursery grounds for coastal fishes. The more mangroves we have, the fish population
in the area grows, thus providing a vital source of livelihood for more than 300,000 fisherfolk in
Manila Bay,” Villar said. Apart from mangroves, Villar also opened a bambusetum or a bamboo
museum inside the park.

The mudflats of LPPCHEA are nonetheless an attraction to a specific set of visitors, the
scientific researchers. A trek to the three connecting ponds of Freedom Island is also a must, as
each hosts a particular wild bird and mangrove species. The Common Moorhen, Philippine Duck,
and White-Collared Kingfisher, for example, are known residents of the lagoons.

The salt marshes of LPPCHEA are also worth visiting. Noted for its uncommon ecosystem,
salt marshes play an important role in the aquatic food web. Salt marshes also help in protecting
shorelines from erosion by buffering wave action and trapping sediments.

Most of the garbage amassed from the shores is comprised of plastic waste. These
synthetics are either turned into rescue boats or plastic chairs that are issued to various public
schools in the country. Bringing back nearby waterways to better conditions also plays a huge part
in restoring the coast.

At LPPCHEA, somebody can also help in conservation through planting several species of
mangroves, including the Philippine endemic mangrove variety Nilad. The cleanup projects for
Manila Bay do not start and end with cleaning. This doesn’t just protect the sea beings living at
LPPCHEA, but it also ensures the subsistence of fisherfolk and protects neighboring cities from
floods.

The pertinent actors are the local government and the volunteers because from them it will
surely protect and maintain the area. Maybe not just to protect but to make some more progress to
become one of the list in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Data collection

The researchers gathered informations that LPPCHEA is an important venue for student’s
ecological studies and fieldtrips for nature appreciation, given that it is the nearest and possibly
only natural wetland site in Manila. The area gives the visitors a chance to commune with nature,
study or simply marvel at life’s majestic creations.

LPPCHEA is not much to look at today but this wetland has immense potential as a nature
preserve for scientific research, recreational and educational purposes. There are some existing
potential strategies to conserve this ecotourism site which requires a serious attention.

Observations will be made by the researchers to find out the gathered information that are
needed to describe the aspect of a variable being studied which cannot described accurately without
observation. And to gather directly primary data for this study for a more accurate description and
interpretation.

Documentation serves to clarify understanding, and perhaps most important, it provides

the audit trail of the analyst. That is, it creates the records which can be referred to at some later
date and which serve as the basis for future work and decisions.
 Interview will be made by the researchers to collect in-depth information on people’s
opinions, thoughts, experiences, and feelings. Interviews are useful when the topic of inquiry
relates to issues that require complex questioning and considerable probing.

These methods are appropriate for this study because it showcase the information needed
to support the study. In addition, these methods may help the researchers for a more accurate
description and interpretation.

Data analysis

The researchers administers an observation and documentation to the tourists of Intramuros

as the primary subjects.

Given these procedures, it will help this study to achieve the objectives. To find out the
gathered information that are needed to describe the aspect of a variable being studied which
cannot described accurately without observation. It will creates the records which can be referred
to at some later date and which serve as the basis for future work and decisions.

The findings

The researchers made their ocular visit in the area. According to the ecotour guide with
them, the main problem of Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area is the
garbages that flows from Manila Bay and South portion of bay in Paranaque City to the Ecotourism
area. The only things that this would be clean and preserve are having a clean-up drive and tree
planting. The researchers ecotour guide said that every weekends they have clean-up drive set from
schools, some organizations and governments.

With the gathered informations by the researchers, they manage to discover that pythons
are often showing in the area but only when they are hungry, the longest python they saw was 100
meters as the ecotour guide estimated the length. The Malabulak Tree is producing a cotton and
from it they can make pillow. Maximum of 2 days of making the pillow by them. A tip from the
tourist who went there and from the ecotour guide that the best bird watching is on or before 7:00
in the morning. A boardwalk or a pathway like an elevated and concrete that stretches along a
scenic view of mangroves. There is a pink pond before entering for an eco-walk, the ecotour guides
called it aroma which is a fruit that falls in the pond that turns into green, yellow and then pink, it
is like a color of a dragon fruit.

Having a food stall or a mini store in the area because not all the visitors who visits the
area have their own vehicles, some of them are commuters. Some of them doesn’t have ideas about
the area except being known as a critical habitat and ecotourism area. It is hard to walk in a long
road just to bought food and water.

Last is the transportations, because Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism
Area is a restricted area, going to the area there are tricycles that offers a trip but it also offer
expensive charge and there is no terminal of tricycle nor pedicabs in the area if you want to leave.

For the researchers there is no alternative ways to conserve and preserve the area.
Volunteering as a helper, doing a clean-up drive and tree planting leading by the schools,
organizations and governments. These are the least to do in order to protect and maintain it. For
the food stall or mini stores, volunteers or the government may give supplies. Having a shuttle
service is a better idea to have a transportation going and leaving the area for those commuters.

The plan of action

RECOMMENDATIONS RESPONSIBLE RESOURCES & MATERIALS

Food Stalls or mini store
Transportation
Additional activities
Government; Volunteers
Government
Government; Volunteers
Donations; Provide a budget from
government
Shuttle service; Terminals of
tricycles and pedicabs
Funds; Volunteers

These were the recommendations based on the findings of the researchers these were some
problems of the problems that the researchers encountered on their ocular visit.

Conclusions

The outcomes of this study that it was discovered that the main problem is the garbages
and the only solutions were having a clean-up drive and tree planting because LPPCHEA is the
first critical habitat to be declared in the country and it truly lives up to its reputation as the region’s
last coastal frontier. As the researchers made their ocular visit in the area, it proves the articles and
blogs that were been made. Garbages that floats from Manilay bay and south portion of Paranaque
goes to LPPCHEA.

The difficulties that the researchers have in carrying out this action research are having a
permit before entering the area that was an ownership of the government it takes 1-2 weeks
processing of the permit.

According to Ms. Gracey, the next time that the researchers visit the area they must provide
the permit before entering the area. Luckily, Ms. Gracey, an admin from the Conservation and
Development Division (CDD) allowed the researchers to enter the area even they don’t have the
permits because they understand the importance of our purpose but they will still release and
approved the permit.

Second, food stall or a mini store in the area because not all the visitors who visits the area
have their own vehicles, some of them are commuters. Some of them doesn’t have ideas about the
area except being known as a critical habitat and ecotourism area. It is hard to walk in a long road
just to bought food and water.

Last is the transportations, because Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism
Area is a secluded area, going to the area there are tricycles that offers a trip but it also offer
expensive charge and there is no terminal of tricycle nor pedicabs in the area if you want to leave.

As the researchers learn from this study is if the researchers want to make a difference and
help in protecting LPPCHEA, we may participate in scheduled clean-up drives as well as tree-
planting activities. Different experiences awaits from the researchers whenever they visit a place.
It's up to the researchers to turn these experiences into something great and truly memorable. In
LPPCHEA, the researchers can give their selves time to commune with nature.

Implications

This study is providing informations about Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and
Ecotourism Area. It is prompted to compose these objectives because Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical
Habitat and Ecotourism Area the role it plays in the survival of threatened, restricted-range and
congregatory bird species. And as is the first critical habitat to be declared in the country, the
researchers wants to know how will it protect and maintain it and to know what were the problems
of it.

Do an ocular visit in the area. According to the ecotour guide with them, the main problem
of Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area is the garbages that flows from
Manila Bay and South portion of bay in Paranaque City to the Ecotourism area. The only things
that this would be clean and preserve are having a clean-up drive and tree planting. The researchers
ecotour guide said that every weekends they have clean-up drive set from schools, some
organizations and governments.

The limitation of the study are done by record keeping because this is similar to going to a
library. There one can go over books and other reference material to collect relevant data that can
likely be used in the research. Second, a process of observation or qualitative observation because
it uses to establish truths that are evident to everybody. Last, it was used in this study is
interviewing because the researchers need to collect in-depth information on people’s opinions,
thoughts, experiences, and feelings.

For most of the qualitative research, the conclusions appear to be unquestionable which
lead the researchers to recommend the following courses of action:

1. For the next researcher/s who would like to continue this research, the researcher/s
recommend you to recommend additional activities or programs that would help
Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical a Habitat and Ecotourism Area to conserve and
preserve it.
2. DENR should provide or plan a shuttle service or a terminal stations for those
commuters who visits the area.
3. DENR or any volunteers may donate some supplies that will be sell in the area.