Province-wide campaign to clean rivers launched
Pangasinan leaders ink covenant
LINGAYEN–Environmental protection is dictated by “common sense and conscience”.
This was the message of Gov. Amado Espino Jr. as he led regional, provincial and municipal leaders on August 24 in the signing of covenant for a province-wide clean-up drive of rivers and waterways.
“Unahin na sana natin ang ating kalikasan bago natin pag-usapan ang mga ibang bagay,” the Governor said in his speech during the signing held at the Sison Auditorium.
Espino acknowledged that the implementation of laws and regulations relating to the environment has been problematic, but at the same time he stressed that it could be done.
He said everybody is a stakeholder when it comes to the environment and underscored that influential and moneyed people should not be the only ones benefiting from the rivers, referring in particular to fish pen and cage operators.
“Hindi lamang po ang may kapital na naglalagay ng fish pen o fish cages ang dapat makinabang sa ating mga ilog. Ang ating kapatagan, bundok, dalampasigan at kailugan ay pag-aari nating lahat, kaya lahat dapat makinabang,” he added.
The Covenant states that parties to the signing “…are aware of the harmful environmental impact brought about by the indiscriminate and irresponsible logging, quarrying, disposal of garbage, establishment of man-made structures and other human activities that adversely affect the rivers and other bodies of water and recognizes the need to repair and revitalize the ecosystem by cleaning the rivers and waterways.”
ONGOING CLEAN-UP
The clean-up drive already started several weeks ago with the dismantling and dredging operations by Task Force Kalikasan along the Agno River.
Before the signing of the covenant, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) Executive Director Paterno Orduña described the status and development of the program.
He cited the transformation of various areas after the dismantling and dredging operations, including the rivers along barangays Poblacion, Naguilayan, Manat, Salapingao and Caloocan Dupo in Binmaley; Poblacion in Lingayen; and Balococ-Bañaga in the Lingayen-Bugallon.
Orduña also discussed the long-term initiatives of the provincial government on flood mitigation.
Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Samuel Penafiel said he is impressed with the clean-up drive in Pangasinan, that political will has been key to its progress.
The dismantling of illegal structures along the rivers, Penafiel said, is part of the adaptation and preparation that must be undertaken to mitigate the effects of climate change and avoid further disasters.
SIGNATORIES
Mayor Benjamin Lim of Dagupan, who is about to order a moratorium on the issuance of licenses for fish pen operations in the city, said the clean-up project is both timely and urgent, and the presence of all officials at the signing ceremony is a recognition that everyone can no longer ignore what is happening around.
Present during the covenant signing were board members Danilo Uy, Mojamito Libunao, Von Mark Mendoza, Raul Sison and Amadeo Espino.
Aside from Lim, the other mayors who were signatories to the covenant were Noel Nacar of Dasol, Ruperto Martinez of Infanta, Carlitos Reyes of Mabini, John Rodney Arcinue of Sual, Jose Pajeta, Jr. of Agno, Alfonso Celeste of Bolinao, Eduardo Ballesteros of Aguilar, Lorenzo Cerezo of Binmaley, Rodrigo Orduña of Bugallon, Ricardo Camacho of Labrador, Jonas Catañeda of Lingayen, Mark Roy Macanlalay of Calasiao, Maximo Calimlim, Jr. of Mapandan, Napoleon Sales of Manaoag, Herminio Romero of Mangaldan, Irene Libunao of San Fabian, Roberto de Vera of San Jacinto, Manuel Collado of Alcala, Amado Espino III of Bautista, Silverio Alarcio, Jr. of Laoac, Artemio Chan of Pozorrubio, Mina Joy Pangasinan of Sison, Amadeo Perez IV of Urdaneta City, Libradita Abrenica of Villasis, Heidee Chua of Asingan, Philip Peralta of Balungao, Alain Jerico Perez of San Manuel and Teodoro Ramos of Sta. Maria.
Vice Mayors Napoleon Celeste of Anda and Timoteo Villar III of Santo Tomas represented their town mayors.
The governor also urged the media to be a pro-active partner in the endeavor by echoing the appeal to communities and convince political leaders to enforce the laws and regulations aimed at protecting the environment.
Espino said the project is a continuation of his ‘Save the Lingayen Gulf Movement’, which he launched when he was still Police Provincial Director in mid 1990s.
“Dapat naman sana na may makikita yung mga anak natin at ang mga susunod pang henerasyon ng mga nakita natin noong tayo’y mga bata pa,” he said.—LM
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