CITY OF MALOLOS — Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Engr. Ralph C. Pablo, representing Secretary Raphael PM. Lotilla, stressed the importance of small yet consistent disciplined activities in creating long-lasting change for the environment during the 1st Bulacan Environment Summit held at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in this city recently.
“Government action alone will never be sufficient. To keep our province clean, green, and resilient, we need the collective will of all Philippines, of all Bulakenyos. A shared sense of responsibility and a civic pride,” Pablo said.
He also said that flooding and pollution problems are not just issue of engineering and policy, but also of behavior and participation.
“It is the duty of every household, barangay, and office to ensure the waste is managed appropriately, and that our rivers and waterways are free of trash. Remember, waste starts and ends in our homes,” he added.
For his part, Governor Daniel R. Fernando laid down the concrete steps of the Provincial Government to put an end to the decade-long flooding problem of the province including the extensive dredging project together with the TCSC Corporation in Angat, Brgy. Pamarawan, City of Malolos, Hagonoy, Guiguinto, and Bulacan offshore; river restoration and dredging projects; Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Stage 3; Bayabas Small Reservoir Irrigation Project; and an integrated water reservoir system on all development projects in the province.
“Ito na ang panahong hindi na tayo manonood lamang habang unti-unting nilalamon ng baha ang ating mga tahanan, habang tinatambakan ng basura ang ating mga ilog, habang ninanakaw ng katiwalian ang kinabukasan ng ating mga anak. Tayo na mismo ang kikilos, magbabago, at magsasakatuparan ng ating mga adhikain,” the governor said.
The governor also considered the presentation of the Phil Ecology Systems Corp. (PhilEco) for the possibility of building a waste-to-energy facility in the province to properly manage Bulacan’s waste.
Fernando also mentioned during the press conference facilitated by the Provincial Public Affairs Office after the inaugural environment summit, that he will also convene the captains of 572 barangays of the province to give them a higher mandate to respond to environmental issues in their jurisdiction.
Also present in the event were mayors Reynante Bautista of Angat, Eduardo Villanueva, Jr. of Bocaue, Glorime Faustino of Calumpit, Atty. Christian Natividad of the City of Malolos, Ma. Rosario Sy-Alvarado-Mendoza of Hagonoy, Enrico Roque of Pandi, Ian Marc Marcos of Paombong, Bartolome Ramos of Santa, Maria Elena Germar of Norzagaray, and Jocell Aimee Vistan-Casaje of Plaridel.
The summit was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Administrator’s Office and Provincial Planning and Development Office. (UnliNews Online)
