This in a nutshell is the essence of the recently approved 1998-2007 Provincial Physical Framework Plan of the provincial government of Bulacan, local environmentalists said.
Fr. Jun Roxas, coordinator of the Diocesan Environment and Ecological Program (DEEP) desk of the Malolos Diocese’s Commission on Service, said the plan is designed for the protection of the environment while also pushing the economic growth of the province.
He said it is timely that the provincial government came up with a development plan that gives priority to environmental concerns.
Roxas said the plan should also tackle comprehensively all aspects of environmental preservation that should lead to the preservation of watersheds in the eastern part of Bulacan.
According to the plan, Bulacan has two of the country’s most important watersheds – Angat’s and the one in Doña Remedios Trinidad-General Tinio.
The strategically located Angat watershed provides potable water to Metro Manila, parts of Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.
The Doña Remedios Trinidad-General Tinio watershed, on the other hand, serves as the headwaters of Nueva Ecija rivers.
Under the plan, critical watersheds shall be protected and massive reforestation programs shall be pursued to improve water quality and increase water yield.
The plan also presented policy guidelines for all decisions relating to land use and environmental management to prevent or mitigate the adverse effects of inappropriate resource utilization on the people’s welfare and their environment.
Bulacan Gov. Josie de la Cruz hailed the plan’s approval, saying it will not only further boost economic growth but will also ensure the protection of the environment through sustainable and systematic programs.