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Freedom islands: are they really free?

If you’re immersed everyday in Metro Manila, a busy jungle of high-rise buildings and car-jammed roads, it’s difficult to imagine a serene paradise that soothes the eyes, and is bursting with biodiversity.

But the good news is that you don’t have to go to far-flung provinces just to see unique species of birds and marine animals. Just several minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, you can already delight in such a paradise.

The Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area or LPPCHEA is divided into two islands, the Freedom Island and the Long Island, jointly known as the Freedom Islands. Both serve as temporary homes to migratory birds from different countries such as China, Japan, and Siberia.

Courtesy: http://www.s1expeditions.com
Courtesy: http://www.s1expeditions.com

When the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road was constructed in 1973, the Freedom Islands were formed alongside it. The islands were part of the master plan for the Southern Reclamation Project that intended to expand the island in the future.

At present, the topography of the place helps birds like Little Egrets and Black-Crowned Night Herons in adjusting before entering the warmer regions of the earth. This is the main reason why a diverse species of birds can be observed in the area, making it an awesome site for bird watching.

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Aside from this, the LPPCHEA is the only remaining mangrove frontier in the metro. Fishes still swarm the area, which is highly beneficial to the fisherfolk of Parañaque and Las Piñas. Other features in the Freedom Islands’ terrains include marshes, ponds, and lagoons, which make it an ideal breeding place for a variety of animals.

However, this breathtaking beauty faces threats. First are the tons of waste that end up in the seas and penetrating the waters of the islands, endangering marine biodiversity as well as potentially killing the fisherfolk’s livelihood. Another major threat are the plans of both the government and private sectors to develop the area surrounding the islands and reclaim it for commercial use.

If these plans push through, buildings and mid-rise residences will be built around the area, threatening wildlife. This action would require filling the waters with rocks and land for them to be able to accommodate buildings. This will pose a great danger to the residents of nearby places and provinces because apart from serving as home for animals, the Freedom Islands also serve as an effective catch basin for floodwaters. If the waters have already been converted into land, where else will the floodwaters go? It’s no wonder that the plans to reclaim the area have induced protests initiated by several civic groups and organizations.

Meanwhile, to ensure that the place remains suited for biodiversity, keeping it clean is of key importance. The Save Freedom Island Movement not only opposes the plan to convert the Freedom Islands, but also helps in organizing coastal cleanups and partnering with other groups or institutions that believe in the same advocacy.

The importance of these islands can’t be stressed enough. They serve their function in the ecosystem. They also provide means of support to the townspeople and lastly, they are majestic sights to behold amidst the rowdy city setup of Metro Manila.

As someone who has been to the place a couple of times, I can personally attest to the charm of the place, filled with greenery and the rich sounds of nature. Now, the challenge confronts all of us. Will we allow this gem to go to waste?

Environmental advocates, including Philippine Coast Guard and Miss Earth Philippines beauty candidates, conduct coastal clean-up along the shores of Freedom Island to mark World Earth Day Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at suburban Las Pinas, south of Manila, Philippines. The Freedom Island, which is home to about 80 species of local and migratory birds, is the receptacle of wastes, mostly plastics, that were washed ashore especially during rainy season. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Environmental advocates, including Philippine Coast Guard and Miss Earth Philippines beauty candidates, conduct coastal clean-up along the shores of Freedom Island to mark World Earth Day Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at suburban Las Pinas, south of Manila, Philippines. The Freedom Island, which is home to about 80 species of local and migratory birds, is the receptacle of wastes, mostly plastics, that were washed ashore especially during rainy season. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Sources:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/301603/news/specialreports/manila-s-last-piece-of-marine-wilderness-under-siege
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/mangroves/mangrove_importance/
http://ncr.denr.gov.ph/index.php/89-webpage/338

Written by Shain Bianca C. Epanag, Panahon TV intern from the University of the Philippines-Diliman