By
Dino Balabo
MALOLOS
CITY—A Bulakenya beauty queen vowed to promote environmental awareness in view
of the calamities visited upon the province s in the last two years.
This,
as the provincial government of Bulacan feted Bernadette Mae Aguirre yesterday
during the launch of the month-long environmental awareness celebrations.
Aguirre
was crowned 2013 Miss Earth Philippines-Eco-tourism last month in Manila. She is the also the holder of the 2012
Lakambini ng Bulacan title.
A
resident of Sta. Maria, one of the towns which suffered from the onslaught of
typhoon Ondoy in 2009, Aguirre said she will push for environmental protection.
She
said she will specifically work for the continued rehabilitation of the
Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System (MMORS) which was included in the list
of 30 dirtiest places on Earth in 2007.
“Environment
degradation stems from lack of of understanding and awareness, that’s why I
will devote this year for environmental campaign,” she said.
Aguirre
also said that she will work hand in hand with the provincial government to
campaign for reforestation projects in eastern Bulacan, specifically in the
Angat Watershed which was declared as
one of the most critical watersheds in the country in 2004.
A
graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Aguirre described the Angat
Watershed as the source of Metro Manila’s drinking water.
She
said that unless it is protected and reforested, Metro Manila water supply
cannot be secured.
With
regards to coastal resources development, Aguirre said she will coordinate with
the Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) for projects they
can work for promotions.
Based
on data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Bulacan annual fish
production dropped by over 10,000 meteric towns from 2001 to 2011.
Agriculture
officials in the province blamed pollution in rivers caused by lack of solid
waste management programs in some towns.
However,
fisherfolk and small fishpond operators blame excessive use of aqua feeds by
fishpond operators with 50 hectares and above of fishponds.
