CITING the urgent need to prevent the extinction of threatened species and promote the protection of their habitats, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman recently filed House Bill No. 3590 or the "Adopt-a-Wildlife Species Act of 2008."

This initiative, Lagman said, aims to conserve and protect biological diversity and promote ecologically sustainable development.

"The biological richness of the Philippines has been hailed as Galapagos times ten. However, despite various laws to protect the country's threatened species, there are still gaps in the intended conservation impact due to problems in implementation, poor coordination, and a lack of interest and participation by local communities and the private sector," the solon said.

Nearly 500 species of plants and animals in the country are threatened, among which are the butanding (whale shark), the tamaraw, the Philippine eagle, and marine turtles. Conservationists fear that without immediate intervention, the country's hotspots will face an extinction crisis.

To curb this, the Adopt-a-Species bill strongly encourages the active participation of the private sector and all other sectors in species conservation. "This bill will address the factors which inhibit greater private sector participation in conservation. Not only will it provide incentives; it will also offer a strong science-based framework that will guide programs and activities," Lagman explained.