BALANGA CITY, Bataan- For the second time, the environmental program of Balanga City which ks headed by Mayor Francis S. Garcia was cited and won in a competition for ‘mangrove protection and management programs.’

Balanga City landed 3rd runner-up in the 2021 ‘Para El Mar’ Marine Protected Area Awards and Recognition. “

Para El Mar (For the sea) recognizes the best practices of local government units (LGUs) in the protection and management of mangroves.

Newsmen learned that the competion for mangrove management and protection program was organized by the Marine protected area support network, The Deutsche Grsellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit,German Federal ministry for the environment, Nature conservation and nuclear safety, USAID, Zoological Socketh of London, University of the Philippines, Departmentof Environment and Natural Resources, and Bureau odfFisheries and Aquatice Resources under the Department of Agriculture.

Started in 2019, the mangrove competition program was initiated by the group in their bid to rally support from LGUs along coastal areas and the national selection is being carried out every two years.

“Hamakin po ninyo ang City of Balanga ay nakipagsabayan sa mga isla ng Aklan, Leyte, at Sorsogon,” said Nerie Mateo, a department head of Balanga city.

Earlier, Garcia received the prestigious ‘2020 National Manila BAYani Award, for his efforts in the massive cleaning and rehabilitation kf Manila Bay.

The winner in the 2021 El Mar’s Best Mangrove Award was Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon, followed by Palompon, Leyte 1st runner- up, Ibajay, Aklan, 2nd runner-up and Balanga Citu, 3rd runner-up.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Christian D. Supnad