Pangangalaga sa mga wetland tulad ng mga bakawan ng bansa na malaking tulong sa food security, isinusulong ng DENR
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00:00 In terms of food security, not only the farmers should be monitored, but also the fishermen and fishermen.
00:09 That's why the GNR, a group of us, is helping to take care of our wetlands that serve as breeding areas for fish.
00:20 Let's see how it is in the news center of Klezel Pardilla.
00:28 Mang Benji, a 69-year-old fisherman, lives in Balanga, in the province of Bataan.
00:36 This is also the job that he has been doing for his five children to finish their education.
00:42 When we planted the mango trees here, the catch was good.
00:50 Before, we caught 5 to 10 kilos of fish, but now, we catch 30 to 40 kilos.
01:04 My children have finished their college.
01:09 Mang Benji is one of more than 1,600 fishermen who benefit from the rich nature of Balanga Wetland and Nature Park in Bataan.
01:21 This wetland is a wetland that is permanent or often submerged in water.
01:31 Balanga Wetland has 15 hectares of land that is considered important for food security.
01:39 It serves as a breeding ground for fish and other marine plants.
01:45 Thanks to our natural and planted area, the catch of fish has increased by 85% for their livelihood.
01:59 Wetlands like Bacawan in the Philippines are old, but due to the construction of houses and industry,
02:07 due to the pollution and climate change,
02:10 Bacawan in the Philippines is said to be 400,000 to 500,000 hectares,
02:16 which has shrunk to 250,000 hectares.
02:20 Wetlands International is concerned about the effect of this,
02:25 because aside from being a food security, the wetlands are said to be nature's kidney
02:32 that is absorbing carbon or heat that is important for the El Niño.
02:37 It also serves as a shelter when there is a storm.
02:41 The climate variability that we call El Niño is becoming more intense
02:46 because there are no more old ecosystems like wetlands that help us to sequester carbon.
02:53 The seedlings and even the nursery that we established,
02:57 it is now covered with garbage.
02:59 In the establishment of World Wetlands Month this February,
03:05 DENR and Wetlands International wanted to expand the knowledge
03:11 in protecting the wetlands in the Philippines,
03:14 especially the ones that are facing our country in the El Niño.
03:19 That is why they held a seminar on how to take care of the wetlands.
03:24 They divided the wetlands and nature parks in Bataan.
03:30 Some of the places we visited were the 18 hectares mud flood sanctuary of migratory water birds.
03:38 While we were touring the wetlands and nature parks,
03:42 we noticed that we were being followed by migratory birds,
03:46 which are called terns.
03:49 They are the ones that use the propeller of our boat to float the fish here in the sea.
03:55 They are being detected and followed by migratory birds because they want to eat.
04:01 Either they will stay there for a long time or they will just stop over.
04:08 They need energy for their next journey.
04:11 The day of the clean-up drive was also special.
04:14 According to DENR, the agency is strict in approving projects
04:20 that could have negative effects on the wetlands.
04:24 That is why it is necessary to pass the environmental impact assessment
04:29 in building infrastructure and establishments.
04:33 Our wetlands are not enough.
04:36 They cannot be converted, particularly our lakes.
04:40 The lakes should be preserved because God created the wetlands.
04:44 Why should we be doing subdivisions?
04:47 The provincial marine guards also took care of the cleaning
04:52 and monitoring of the Balanga Wetlands and Nature Park.
04:56 We have here in Bataan, we have CENRO Dinalupihan,
05:01 we have MES here, our monitoring enforcement sections.
05:06 Not just DENR, but also the city of Balanga.
05:11 We have been here for 24 hours.
05:13 Mang Benji is also one of the fishermen who serves as marine guard.
05:18 We collect the garbage and put it in a sack so that it does not come back.
05:24 According to DENR, conservation of nature is not only an obligation of the government.
05:35 This is a whole of a nation approach campaign of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
05:42 on the problems that the country is facing.
05:46 Khalei Zalpardilia for Pampansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.
05:53 (upbeat music)