CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Senator Cynthia Villar wants to strengthen the sustainable management of aquatic resources and promote stakeholder engagement to resource protection and conservation.
She bared this during the recently held coastal clean up drive dubbed Manila Bay Gawing MMK (Malinis at Masagang Karagatan) at the Bamboo Hub in Lubao town.
Villar, with Speaker of the House Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Governor Lilia Nanay Pineda, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona, Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab, BFAR Director 3 Lilian Garcia and Sasmuan Mayor Nardo Velasco led the coastal cleaning and mangrove planting here.
Villar, also the Chairperson of the Senate of the Philippines Committee on Agricultural and Food and Environment and Natural Resources, also conducted a fingerling dispersal. This she believes, can control and lower the prices of fishes in the market.
With this, the lady senator encouraged all the attendees including Provincial Government of Pampanga department heads, other officials and representatives from mandamus agencies, and Local Government Units (LGUs) and students from different schools to be responsible enough in the preservation, protection, conservation and rehabilitation of coastal resources since the Manila Bay is already five times dirtier than the 2008 record.
According also to SGMA, the idea to intensify the efforts in reviving the environmental condition of Manila Bay and its coastal provinces can help in the fishery industry, environmental rehabilitation and lowering the market prices for fishes.
“Nakakatulong tayo sa environment, nakakatulong tayo sa fisheries at makakatulong pa tayo sa pagbaba ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” the Pampanga Representative added.
Moreover, Cayabyab also furthered that the responsibilty to conserve the aquatic resources would always start within ourselves.
“Kung hindi tayo, sino pa ba? At kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?” the Lubao Mayor mentioned.
Cayabyab also said that the eco-tourism park, Bamboo Hub, attracts tourists from other provinces and even families who spend their weekends here.
According to her, even if her Mayoral term ends, the development of the hub will be continuous.
Meanwhile, the lady governor thanked the Senator and SGMA for always supporting and extending their hand to the provincial government of Pampanga.
The fishermen of Pampanga received P637,915.00 worth of Livelihood Assistance Fishing gear/Paraphernalia, Post Harvest Equipment (Techno-Demo), Fisheries Livelihood Development Project under MMK, Fingerlings/Fry Dispersal for Fishpond Operators and Communal Dispersal under Balik Sigla sa Ilog at Lawa (BaSIL) Program from BFAR 3. -Leah Isidro De Fiesta
