QuestionsQuestions (PROCLAMATION NO. 1412)
It is anchored on the President’s powers vested by law, and it specifically cites relevant legal frameworks including RA 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, 2004) and EO 578 (2007), as well as EO 111 (1999) on ecotourism development guidelines.
To establish a critical habitat and ecotourism area within the Coastal Lagoon of Las Piñas and Parañaque, for conservation and protection of threatened and congregatory wildlife species and to support sustainable ecotourism consistent with national policy.
The proclaimed area covers 175.307 hectares and has a stated perimeter of 8,133.6875 meters, with a technical description given by geographic coordinates.
To justify the area’s global ecological importance as a wetland hosting significant proportions of waterbird populations in the East Asian Flyway, consistent with RAMSAR criteria and the Philippines’ adoption of relevant RAMSAR policies for foreshore areas.
It mentions populations of the globally threatened Chinese Egret and the Philippine Duck, along with 25 other rare and uncommon waterbird species.
It states that an area is considered globally important if it hosts at least 1% of the population of any waterbird species in the East Asian Flyway; it also notes that Las Piñas–Parañaque meets this and even reaches 10% for the Black-winged Stilt.
It is cited as providing for the establishment and management of critical habitats for threatened, restricted-range, and congregatory species, and for integrating biodiversity impact assessment into Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) processes.
It states that biodiversity impact assessment shall be integrated into the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Risk Assessment processes, considering guidelines adopted under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
It references EO 111 (1999), which provides national guidelines for ecotourism development; thus, the proclaimed area is framed not only for strict habitat protection but also for ecotourism consistent with those guidelines.
It uses a technical description by listing perimeter points with latitude and longitude coordinates, enumerated as Point #1 through Point #60.
It states in Section 2 that it shall take effect immediately.
It was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Executive Secretary shown is Eduardo R. Ermita.
Conservation and sustainable development of a globally significant coastal wetland (biodiversity protection under RAMSAR and RA 9147/EO 578), and the promotion of ecotourism under EO 111, provided management and protection goals are met.
Recitals explain facts, purposes, and legal/policy justifications (e.g., RAMSAR significance, presence of threatened species, cited laws). Operative sections (Section 1 and Section 2) create the legal effect—establishing the area, defining its technical boundaries, and stating the effectivity date.