LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Pangasinan Bikers Association (PBA) expressed its full-support to the ‘greening program’ of the provincial government led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. through planting hundreds of mangrove tree seedlings along the shoreline of Bolinao Fish Farm and Mangrove Information Center and Nursery recently
About 200 bikers from various municipalities and cities in the province participated in the mangrove tree-planting, a tie-up activity of PBA and Provincial Agriculture Office.
PBA President Alex Sison said the tree-planting formed part of their line-up of activities this year. “Natutuwa ang mga bikers na makatulong sa kalikasan at sa mga programa ng provincial government,” said Sison, who reaffirmed the group’s commitment and support to the environmental advocacy of the present provincial administration.
“Its almost 15 years na (since 2001) ang samahan namin kay Governor Espino. So far, maganda yung tie-up at every year may mga projects kaming ginagawa para makatulong sa probinsiya,” Sison, Punong-Barangay of Poblacion Zone 1 in Villasis, said.
Prior to the tree-planting activity, Governor Espino led the fellowship night prepared by the provincial government for the bikers inside a resort in barangay Patar, Bolinao.
The fellowship night was also attended by Board Member Amado I. Espino, III, Liga ng mga Barangay Provincial President; Carolina Abad, Federation President of Liga ng mga Barangay in Bolinao; William Dy, Federation President of Liga ng mga Baragay in Bugallon.
Owing to the support of PBA to various programs and projects of the province particularly for environmental preservation, the provincial chief executive vowed to uphold the rights and welfare of motorcycle riders in the province.
Meanwhile, Provincial Agriculturist OIC Dalisay Moya said the greening program and various environmental advocacies of the provincial government have gained the support of various sectors.
“Gusto natin mapangalagaan ang ating environment lalo na ngayon at nararamdaman natin ang climate change,” Moya said.
Environmental governance, Moya pointed out, is among the priority thrusts of the present provincial administration. Fish farms and nurseries that are managed by the province produce fingerlings and tree-seedlings of various species to sustain the fish dispersal and tree-planting activities of the OPAG, she added.
According to Moya, series of tree-planting activities has been scheduled at the onset of rainy season in various mountainous and hilly areas in Pangasinan. This is to assure the high survival rate of the tree seedlings, she explained.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Pangasinan Bikers’ Association na may activity sila na ganito in support to the greening program of the province, she said.
Aside from the tree-planting activity, the PBA also engages in the distribution of school supplies for children in remote areas and sponsors summer camp riders and seminars which aim to orient people on safety tips of riding a motorcycle.
Last year, the PBA conducted a similar seminar at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) Gym.
Founded in year 2000, the PBA has a total of 37 active clubs from various town and cities in the province.
By Dexter A. See
