CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Pampanga board members and other officials of the provincial government concerned with environment lauded the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) as an effective tool for the sustainable development of watershed, marine and coastal areas of the province.
More so, Senior Board Member Cris Garbo, speaking on behalf of his colleagues at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, committed the immediate passing of a resolution to formalize the provincial government’s commitment to adopt ICM as a strategy in managing and ensuring the sustainable development of target areas in Pampanga
This developed during the ICM briefing of mayors and local government unit officials, provincial board members, and environment and natural resources officers at the province and regional level held at the provincial capitol’s executive house in the City of San Fernando
Executive Director Rafael Lotilla and Adrian Ross of the Partnership on the Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) provided the necessary inputs on achieving sustainable development targets at the local government level through the ICM strategy
ENRO Head Art Punsalan said that the province plans to conduct soon a seminar-workshop on ICM to provide concerned local government units in the province with adequate knowledge and understanding of the said coastal management strategy
“We strongly believe that the ICM strategy would be able to effectively address our problems on waterways and sea and water boundaries,” Punsalan explained.He added that it is of utmost importance “that we empower the LGUs on sea and water laws including strategies and how they could effectively manage the coastal areas within their jurisdiction especially those along the Manila Bay area”.
Thus, he urged the members of the provincial board to allocate the needed funds for the conduct of the said information dissemination activity
Punsalan also requested the DENR and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to enjoin all concerned local government units to comply with the deadline set by the Supreme Court to finish the inspection of all factories, commercial establishments and private homes along the banks of the major river systems and other minor rivers and waterways within their jurisdiction that eventually discharge water into the Manila Bay and lands abutting it to determine if they have wastewater treatment facilities and hygienic septic tanks as prescribed by existing laws and regulations.
The mayors are given until September 30, 2011 by the Supreme Court to finish the said inspection.
The provincial ENRO head also stressed that addressing the various issues and challenges of environmental management needs an integrated approach from all stakeholders including the private sector and non-government organizations.
Macabebe Mayor Annette Balgan agreed that the board members’ commitment to adopt the ICM would benefit the province especially the poor fisherfolks in her municipality who largely depend on the resources of the Pampanga River for their livelihood
Lotilla said that the political interest and support on the ICM, especially in the fourth district of the province, is high even as he acknowledged the commitment of the local government units, DENR and the provincial government led by Governor Lilia G. Pineda.
He recalled that more than a month ago, they met with the governor and presented to her an overview of the ICM and what the PEMSEA is all about.
“We truly appreciate that the province has taken initial necessary steps towards the proper management of coastal areas along the Manila Bay as we acknowledge the important roles of local government units in ensuring the success of this partnership program.
Board Members Ric Yabut and Nestor Tolentino were one in saying that the ICM would address the water pollution problem in the fourth district and assured the local government units’ commitment to support and participation in the environmental management program. (Pampanga PIO)
More so, Senior Board Member Cris Garbo, speaking on behalf of his colleagues at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, committed the immediate passing of a resolution to formalize the provincial government’s commitment to adopt ICM as a strategy in managing and ensuring the sustainable development of target areas in Pampanga
This developed during the ICM briefing of mayors and local government unit officials, provincial board members, and environment and natural resources officers at the province and regional level held at the provincial capitol’s executive house in the City of San Fernando
Executive Director Rafael Lotilla and Adrian Ross of the Partnership on the Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) provided the necessary inputs on achieving sustainable development targets at the local government level through the ICM strategy
ENRO Head Art Punsalan said that the province plans to conduct soon a seminar-workshop on ICM to provide concerned local government units in the province with adequate knowledge and understanding of the said coastal management strategy
“We strongly believe that the ICM strategy would be able to effectively address our problems on waterways and sea and water boundaries,” Punsalan explained.He added that it is of utmost importance “that we empower the LGUs on sea and water laws including strategies and how they could effectively manage the coastal areas within their jurisdiction especially those along the Manila Bay area”.
Thus, he urged the members of the provincial board to allocate the needed funds for the conduct of the said information dissemination activity
Punsalan also requested the DENR and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to enjoin all concerned local government units to comply with the deadline set by the Supreme Court to finish the inspection of all factories, commercial establishments and private homes along the banks of the major river systems and other minor rivers and waterways within their jurisdiction that eventually discharge water into the Manila Bay and lands abutting it to determine if they have wastewater treatment facilities and hygienic septic tanks as prescribed by existing laws and regulations.
The mayors are given until September 30, 2011 by the Supreme Court to finish the said inspection.
The provincial ENRO head also stressed that addressing the various issues and challenges of environmental management needs an integrated approach from all stakeholders including the private sector and non-government organizations.
Macabebe Mayor Annette Balgan agreed that the board members’ commitment to adopt the ICM would benefit the province especially the poor fisherfolks in her municipality who largely depend on the resources of the Pampanga River for their livelihood
Lotilla said that the political interest and support on the ICM, especially in the fourth district of the province, is high even as he acknowledged the commitment of the local government units, DENR and the provincial government led by Governor Lilia G. Pineda.
He recalled that more than a month ago, they met with the governor and presented to her an overview of the ICM and what the PEMSEA is all about.
“We truly appreciate that the province has taken initial necessary steps towards the proper management of coastal areas along the Manila Bay as we acknowledge the important roles of local government units in ensuring the success of this partnership program.
Board Members Ric Yabut and Nestor Tolentino were one in saying that the ICM would address the water pollution problem in the fourth district and assured the local government units’ commitment to support and participation in the environmental management program. (Pampanga PIO)