CABIAO, Nueva Ecija – The municipal government spearheaded on Tuesday a multi-sectoral effort to clean a lake which once served as source of livelihood for residents.
Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco, a champion of the good governance watchdog Kaya Natin!, said the drive to save Nabao Lake, a 39-kilometer lake in the villages of Sta. Rita and San Carlos, was the main theme of the town’s third “Paistima Ka Festival” that started Tuesday and will run until Saturday.
The festival also highlights activities such as walk-for-a-cause, celebration of the Holy Mass, exhibits and booths for local products and heritage, dart competition, talents and sport competition and search for Binibining Cabiao on the first day.
There will be mass demonstrations for both public and private schools, love and care month, harana festival, poster-making contest, tree planting activity, Lutong Kabyawenyo Cookfest, Serenata ng Bayan, float competition, drum and lyre competetion and exhibition, Gabi ng Parangal for Outstanding Kabyawenyos and launching of the “Taas Noo Ako ay Kabyawenyo March,” street dancing competition, Gabi ng Pagkakaisa at Pasasalamat and grand fireworks display on the succeeding days.
Congco said that Nabao Lake has been the source of livelihood for their forefathers, aside from being a tourist attraction site.
“Ibalik ang Nabao sa pagiging isang munting paraiso, isang kayamanan ng bayang Cabiao at isang napakagandang tanawin para sa aming lahat lalong lalo na sa mga kabataan,” the lady chief executive said.
“It used to be a fishing ground for the people of Cabiao but has been neglected for long,” she added. Congco initiated the cleaning of the lake on the last part of her first nine-year stint as mayor but was apparently forgotten again during the last administration.
“Nilagyan namin ito ng maraming isda para maging palaisdaan ng bayan ng Cabiao at nung umalis ako ay medyo nakakalungkot, naibalik na naman sa dating anyo kaya ngayon ang layunin ko ay ulitin namin yung ginawa namin before,” she stressed.
She called on residents, including women and children to participate in the continuous effort to maintain and promote the healthy status of the lake.
“Gawin natin itong pasyalan at magbigay ng mas malalim na pagbubuklod ng bawat isang anak ng Cabiao ang lawa na paraiso mula sa Panginoon,” Congco said.
