DENR to address water concerns in 5 tourist spots
ENVIRONMENT Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga said that her office stands ready to provide technical assistance on water concerns especially to the localities where the five Green Economy Model (GEM) of top tourist destinations are located.
The five GEMs are the El Nido and Coron in Palawan, Panglao in Bohol, Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro and Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte.
According to Loyzaga, the DENR’s Water Resource Management Office is the agency tasked to address any concerns about water as she stressed how important having a stable water supply for all local government units (LGUs).
Last Friday, Loyzaga joined Cabinet members in a meeting, where they discussed immediate actions and steps to address major environmental concerns in the country’s prime tourist destinations.
Present were Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco and Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, along with local chief executives from the five Green Economy Model (GEM) sites.
The five GEMs are prime tourist destinations whose water resource management, solid waste management, land use planning and enforcement of easement zones, and public-private partnerships are closely monitored by national government agencies, including the DENR.
During the meeting, local chief executives raised concerns on water quality in their localities, management of solid waste, and water security. They reported their initial actions on these issues and presented areas for further collaboration with the national government.
Loyzaga said that the DENR will continue to work with national government agencies and LGUs in the implementation of programs to address the problem of solid waste and plastic pollution.
This includes programs in collaboration with the country’s development partners such as the 60 million euro Green Economy Program.
During the meeting, Secretary Frasco provided information on the major programs of the DOT that includes the development of tourism areas and establishment of call centers while Secretary Herbosa reiterated the continued establishment of new hospitals and expansion of Health Care Centers by the DOH.
DILG Secretary Abalos instructed the LGUs present in the meeting to undertake immediate measures to address the water quality and solid waste challenges in their respective areas within six months.
He also expressed concern that beach areas in these GEM sites may face the possibility of temporary moratorium similar to the rehabilitation case of Boracay Island.
