PANGASINAN, Lingayen – Albay province in the Bicol region will replicate some programs of Pangasinan’s Coastal Resource Management (CRM).
This developed as officials of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Legazpi in Albay province made a study tour recently in the province where they were presented pioneering programs in fishery management, and projects for river and coastal area protection and preservation.
“Maganda ang mga projects nyo sa CRM at gusto sana namin i-adopt sa amin,” said Salve Corral, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer of Legazpi.
Corral, along with 15 personnel of CENRO Legazpi, were received by Executive Assistant IV Ramon Morden and Chief Administrative Officer Irmina Francisco at the Capitol, on behalf of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr.
Morden said that “it is only under the leadership of Governor Espino that Pangasinan became a best-performing LGU notable for its comprehensive environmental advocacies.”
The Pangasinan CRM, which serves as the backbone of environmental governance of the Espino administration, had already gained various regional and national citations by the Regional Development Council (RDC) and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Pangasinan bested three other provinces in Region 1 for three consecutive years (2008, 2009 and 2010) to capture the Hall of Fame award in CRM.
The CENRO group was also presented with the “Ilog Ko Aroen, Tan Bilayen Ko,” a major component activity of Pangasinan CRM implemented under the supervision of ‘Task Force Kalikasan’ – a group commissioned by Governor Espino.
It can be recalled that a covenant was signed by provincial officials, board members, chief executives of municipal and city LGUs, supported by various sectors, National Government Agencies (NGAs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), to express support for the advocacy.
After the massive dismantling of illegal fishing structures and dredging of silts from river basins, rivers and waterways in Pangasinan regained their natural beauty and grandeur, teeming with various species of fish.
The dredged rivers also serve as a long-term flood mitigation facility.
Aside from CENRO of Legazpi, the Laguna Lake Development Authority and other LGUs that visited the province in an earlier time had expressed intent to copy Pangasinan CRM.
By Dexter A. See