LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Governor Ramon V. Guico III will sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with different national, regional, and provincial agencies and stakeholders from Regions 1 and III for the creation of the Gama-Nayom River Watershed Management Council.
This developed after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on April 29 approved a resolution authored by Board Member Vici M. Ventanilla for the purpose.
The creation of the council will specifically boost the goal of protecting, rehabilitating, developing, managing, and utilizing natural resources within the Gama-Nayom River Watershed, a major river that covers the provinces of Zambales and Pangasinan.
Hence, the Gama-Nayom River Watershed Management Council shall serve as an oversight and advisory body on watershed planning and implementation of programs and projects within the area.
The management council will be composed of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Irrigation Administration and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples; the Regional Offices-1 of Mines and Geo-Sciences; Provincial Government Units of Zambales and Pangasinan; Municipalities of Infanta, Bugallon and Aguilar; Province of Zambales; Infanta Waterworks System; Sta. Cruz Water District; CBFM PO Federation of Pangasinan; Eastern Sta. Cruz Community Management Center, Inc.; and CS First Green Agri-Industrial Development, Inc.
“Effective and purposive collaboration and coordination of development initiatives among all stakeholders in a watershed, including LGUs, national government agencies, NGOs, peoples’ organizations, and the private sector, will hasten and facilitate the realization of the goals envisioned under DENR Administrative Order No. 23 Series of 2005,” the resolution stated.
Furthermore, the resolution disclosed that the Provincial Government of Pangasinan, through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, expressed its full support and active involvement in the collaborative undertaking for the protection and sustainable management of the environment and natural resources.
“Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, mandates local government units to establish, maintain, preserve, and conserve communal forests and watersheds,” the resolution further cited.
(Ruby F. Rayat, Joey Olimpo/PIMRO)
