DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 31 -- The United Nations Development Programme-Biodiversity Finance Project (UNDP-BIOFIN) has chosen the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao and Danao in Negros Oriental province as among its six featured areas in the Philippines for the Year of the Protected Areas (YoPA) campaign.

Gregg Yan, UNDP-BIOFIN consultant, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday, said the YoPA campaign aims to highlight the critical role of protected areas for people and nature.

"The Balinsasayao Twin Lakes and the five other featured areas were chosen for this YoPA campaign because they are not as widely promoted as the other protected areas in the country," Yan said.

There are 247 protected areas in the Philippines, he said. ...