BALANGA City, Bataan: The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday held at the Bataan Tourism Pavilion here a Provincial Action Plan Workshop as part of its caravan on the protection of the West Philippines Sea (WPS).
The activity was in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units (LGU).
The project was dubbed “Bayanihang Adhikain, Bayaning Aksiyon para sa Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas” where participants led by DILG Region 3 director Aracelia San Jose, in the part of government and Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia, in the part of the LGUs, signed a pledge on the wall.
The wall signing was about the commitment to implement an action plan to protect WPS or “Pangakong Ipatutupad ang Planong Aksiyon para Protektahan ang Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas.”
The governor delivered the province’s solidarity message, emphasizing the importance of the WPS to Bataan. “Isang bahagi ng Bataan nakaharap sa WPS kaya marapat lamang na ipaglaban natin ang ating teritoryo. Dapat ma-establish natin na ito’y atin.”
The coastal towns of Mariveles, Bagac and Morong are adjacent to the WPS, all with beautiful wide sandy beaches.
DILG provincial director Belina Herman presented the provincial action plan which was later validated in the workshop. DENR, represented by Assistant Sec. Felix Alicer, dealt on the biodiversity and marine protection in the WPS.
DILG Region 3 director San Jose explained that the caravan aimed at bringing the national action plan to the grassroots. “Kailangang malaman ng ating mga kababayan kung ano action plan na ito.”
“Ginagawa itong caravan para masiguro na ang national action plan ay maipaabot sa mga local na pamahalaan para sa ganoon makuha ang suporta ng local na pamahalaan at komumidad at mas mapalakas ang ating laban at maprotektahan ang West Philippine Sea,” the director said.
Asked why there were no representatives in the caravan from the Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, San Jose said “Unang layunin ng caravan ang protektahan ang food security at kinabukasan ng ating mga kababayan kaya ang caravan ay binubuo ng DENR at DA.”
In attendance at the workshop were members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Gov. Cristina Garcia, municipal mayors and Partylist Rep. Jett Nisay.
Video presentations on the National Security Council and the value of the WPS were shown.
