Banca Parada showcases province’s clean river
PISTA’Y DAYAT 2014
BUGALLON–A parade of more than 150 boats, dressed up with colourful decor, during the Banca Parada (Fluvial Parade) on May 1, showcased the Agno River, now considered one of the country’s cleanest rivers.
Governor Amado Espino Jr. was on board the boat that represented local government units (LGUs), national government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and private businesses.
The parade sailed through Agno River from Sitio Bantayan, Barangay Pangapisan North in Lingayen to Bañaga Bridge in Bugallon.
Hundreds of spectators were delighted by the sight of the bancas decorated mostly with indigenous and biodegradable materials, depicting the theme “Ilog Ko, Aroen Ko Tan Bilayen Ko”.
After the almost one-hour parade, the provincial government awarded the most decorative floats: for category a (LGU-towns, NGOs, NGAs)- Pangasinan School of Arts (champion), Anda (first runner up), Sual (second runner up); and for category b (LGU-barangays)- Baybay Lopez in Binmaley (champion), Cabalitian in Sual (first runner up) and Dulag, Binmaley (second runner up).
The grand fluvial parade is a component activity of the “Ilog Ko, Aroen Tan Bilayen Ko” environmental advocacy of the provincial government’s Coastal Resource Management Program, and a part of the Pista’y Dayat (Sea Festival) celebration.
OTHER AWARDS
Meanwhile, the provincial government also cited the winners of the 2014 search for the “Cleanest Rivers and Riverbanks” and “LGU best practices in environmental governance” in its Pakar Awards.
Best Practices winners were: Poblacion Norte in Sta. Barbara, Bocboc West in Aguilar, Batchelor East in Natividad, and Maseil-seil in Umingan (LGU-barangay category, with P15,000 prize); and Urdaneta City and Laoac (LGU-town category with P20,000 prize).
The winners of major awards in the search for the cleanest rivers were 1) Barangay category with P50,000 incentive – Laoac in Alcala for inland river category and Bued in Alaminos City (hall of fame award) for coastal river; 2) Municipal category with P100,000 incentive: Sta. Maria for inland river and Dasol for coastal river.
Now on its fourth year, the Pakar Awards, according to provincial agriculturalist Dalisay Moya, aims to recognize the efforts of LGUs in the protection, management and preservation of river systems in Pangasinan.
This year, out of the 39 LGUs in Pangasinan, were entered in the search. Nine were excluded namely, Labrador, Bugallon, Binmaley, San Carlos City, and San Fabian since these served as project sites of the provincial government’s Task Force Kalikasan.
Mangaldan is also excluded as it is already a hall of famer in the search; Basista has no major river; and Dagupan City is an independent component city.
Meanwhile, Edicio Dela Torre, the event’s guest speaker, said he was impressed by the cleanliness of the river system and the commitment and support of various LGUs in the provincial government’s environmental preservation advocacy.
The provincial government also awarded the winners in the search for the cleanest, safest, greenest city and municipality: 1) Category A (1st-3rd class municipalities) – Mangaldan (champion), Villasis (1st runner up), Bolinao (2nd runner up); 2) Category B (4th-5th class municipalities) – Laoac (champion), Sta. Maria (1st runner up), Balungao (2nd runner up); and 3) Category C (component cities)- Alaminos City (champion), San Carlos City (1st runner up).
The Pista’y Dayat, long-celebrated in Pangasinan every May 1, has become a longer and grander celebration under the administration of Gov. Amado Espino Jr. —Johanne R. Macob with report from PIA1-Pangasinan/VHS
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