Legarda: Our Fragile Earth (Protected Areas of the Philippines) to be shown again on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC)

To highlight the importance of the recent enactment of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System or ENIPAS under Republic Act No. 11038, Senator Loren Legarda invites everyone to watch the re-showing of the first ever Protected Areas documentary series on Philippine television, which will be shown two episodes at a time starting this Friday, July 13, 2018, at 8:30PM on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

The first batch of Our Fragile Earth: Protected Areas of the Philippines, is comprised of 12 short documentaries, which aim to strengthen public awareness about our country’s protected areas and educate people on how to maintain ecological balance and enhance biological diversity. This was conceptualized by Legarda, produced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and directed by internationally-acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza.

“Our Fragile Earth aims to educate citizens on our protected areas, so that we could foster national consciousness and cultivate a culture of engagement so that people will be compelled to do something to protect our biodiversity and natural resources to achieve sustainability,” Legarda said.

“We must all understand the significance of these protected areas to our daily lives, because effectively managed PAs play a critical role in the country’s food security and can help protect vulnerable communities by reducing the impact of natural hazards,” Legarda added.

On July 13, the Apo Reef Natural Park in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, the world’s second largest connecting coral reef; and the mystical mountain of Mt. Banahaw – San Cristobal Protected Landscape (MBSCPL) highlighting the conservation of the 10,900 ha of biodiversity will be shown.

On the second week of the docu-series, Our Fragile Earth will feature the Camotes Island Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve, described as a precious fortress in Central Visayas; and the beautiful and pristine island of Coron in Palawan.

On the third week, the show will feature the breathtaking El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area back to back with the world-renowned Ifugao Rice Terraces, which emphasizes the importance of the centuries-old terraces in preserving our country’s biodiversity, rich heritage and culture as well as in addressing our agricultural needs.  The terraces are also a living testament to the Filipino’s creativity and ingenuity.

Meanwhile, on the fourth episode, the docu-series will feature Lake Sebu, which is part of the Allah Valley Protected Landscape, home to our dreamweavers, the T’bolis; and the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ASEAN Heritage Park, which is a sanctuary to an immense variety of endemic flora and fauna.

On the fifth week, watch Our Fragile Earth as it explores the majestic Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO-declared World Heritage Site, recognized by Ramsar as Wetland of International Importance, and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature; and another area in Palawan, the Rasa island, which is a nesting and breeding site for birds that are much sought after in the pet trade for their beauty and unusual ability to mimic the human voice.

On its final week, the show features the Sagay Marine Reserve in Negros Occidental and the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor, an important source of livelihood for over seven million people who engage in fishing, aquaculture and tourism, among others, and an important passageway for both commercial and industrial ships travelling from Manila or Batangas going to the southern parts of the country and vice versa.

“This is just one of our initiatives to spread environmental awareness to restore and enhance the quality of our environment and to inculcate to the public the value of our rich biodiversity; that as stewards of the Earth, we must learn to co-exist with nature. It is our duty to protect the environment and we must be more proactive and creative in engaging citizens to work together in protecting the environment,” Legarda concluded.

Protected areas are identified portions of land and water set aside by reasons of their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation.

Since 1992, 113 protected areas have been declared through Presidential proclamations under the NIPAS Law. However, only 13 protected areas have finally proceeded to be legislated as such in the more than 20 years since the NIPAS Act was enacted. On June 22, 2018, the expanded version of the law under Republic Act No. 11038 was signed to strengthen the conservation of 97 ecologically critical areas in the country.

Our Fragile Earth: Protected Areas of the Philippines airs every Friday, 8:30 PM, on ANC.