MANGALDAN has been cited the “Cleanest Municipality with the Cleanest River” in the province’s Pakar Award.

The Pakar, a local word implying the protection and preservation of the environment were handed out on April 25 as part of the opening of this year’s Pista’y Dayat celebration on May 1.

Earning 81.34 % rating, Mangaldan led the selection process for municipalities as determined by members of the board of judges composed or representatives from different government agencies based on the criteria: physical conditioning, 50 per cent; and support system, 50 percent.

Mangaldan was awarded a cash prize of P100,000 plus a P1 million fund for various projects.

Barangay Banaga, Bugallon, meanwhile, was awarded as Cleanest Barangay with the Cleanest River, with a score of 81.14 percent, receiving P50,000 cash prize and an additional P500,000 worth of projects.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. presented the prizes to the winners.

Bangka Parada (fluvial parade) that started at the foot of the bridge in Barangay Domalandan East, Lingayen, moving towards Banaga, Bugallonwas staged to signal the start of the celebration of the Pistay Dayat.

More than 100 decorated boats participated in the fluvial parade with Espino on board the lead boat of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The evaluation team was composed of representatives from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Rotary Club District, Department of Interior and Local Government, Agno Flood Control System, Department of Public Work and Highways, á2nd Engineering District, National Irrigation Administration,, Philippine National Police, Pangasinan State University and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Commission.

The yearly Pakar Award is an activity of the provincial government in support of the provincial government’s campaign to keep Pangasinan’s rivers clean through the Ilog Ko, Bilayen Ko, Aruen Ko program.

In his speech during the Pista’y Dayat opening, Espino said maintaining the cleanliness of the rivers in the province “can bring back the beauty of Pangasinan”.

He reiterated that rivers should be used for transportation, as a recreational area and a source of livelihood among fisher folks.

“Let us help each other so that the children of ourgrandchildren will also see and enjoy the rivers that we once enjoyed in our time,” he said.

Paterno Orduña, executive assistant at the provincial government, was Executive Officer in this year’s Bangka Parada.

Guest of honor and speaker during the opening of the Pista’y Dayat was Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Eleazar Quinto.

Quinto cited Espino for his outstanding performance as governor and Special Environment Officer, a designation extended to him last year by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza.—LM

Bolinao is cleanest coastal town

BOLINAO bagged the top prize of P200,000 worth of Coastal Resources Management (CRM) projects for being the Cleanest Coastal Municipality in Pangasinan in the Tambuyog Awards.

The awards program is an offshoot of the covenant signing between Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and the coastal local government units last year that called for collective action and shared responsibility to attain sustainable coastal resources management and development in the province.

The award was presented to Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste during the program that culminated the week-long celebration of Pista’y Dayat.

Burgos town, headed by Mayor Domingo Doctor, placed second and won P150,000 worth of CRM projects, followed by Mayor Simplicio Rosario’s Binmaley to win P100,000 valued projects. Fourth placer is Agno bagged P70,000.

Special citations were given to Alaminos City, Dagupan City and Bani.

The Tambuyog Award is in line with the selection of Pangasinan as Most Outstanding Coastal Resource Management Implementer for 2007-2008 – Provincial Category by the Regional Development Council under its program called Coastal Resource Management, Ilocos Coast.

Under the Tambuyog Awards program, 14 coastal towns underwent an extensive and intensive evaluation process based on the following criteria: physical condition (60%) and support system (40%).

Evaluated were the 14 coastal towns are San Fabian, Binmaley, Lingayen, Labrador, Sual, Alaminos, Infanta, Dasol, Agno, Bolinao, Bani, Anda, and Burgos and Dagupan City. The province has 122 coastal barangays and 25 barangays along rivers.

The physical condition includes coastal management, water quality, solid waste management and eco-tourism development while the support systems includes CRM plans and legislative measures, coastal law, budgetary appropriation for the CRM program, linkages, and information and education campaign.–LM

Back to Homepage