'Save the environment for a brighter future'

LINGAYEN, Philippines  – Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino, Jr. has called on his constituents to help save the environment to ensure a brighter future for the next generations.

Espino made the call on Friday after the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the award of P287,500 for the rehabilitation of about 25 hectares of mangrove area in the province.

The funds represented DENR’s incentive and recognition for the provincial government’s Coastal Resource Management program, which was earlier adjudged as the Best Project Implementer among the regions and Hall of Fame awardee for winning the title for three consecutive years.

Dasol town has designated 15 hectares as project site, while Infanta has 10 hectares.

Espino thanked the DENR for recognizing the province’s environmental efforts even as he cited the various environmental projects the province has implemented since he became governor.

The river cleanup and dredging operations under the “Ilog Ko Bilayen Tan Aroen Ko” program, is among the most significant projects that Espino initiated.

Espino said the provincial government also pursued massive coastal clean-up, mangrove planting along coastal areas and riverbanks, tree planting in denuded mountains and continual environmental advocacy programs conducted in rural communities and schools.

He said the river cleanup, complemented by the transformation and rehabilitation of seedling facilities in Barangay Portic, Bugallon and Arnedo Mangrove Information Center and Nursery in Bolinao has resulted in a 284 percent increase in the province’s mangrove production, thereby expanding its coastal reforestation areas and riverbanks. Pangasinan is the only province in Region 1 that operates its own mangrove nursery.