LUCENA CITY, Quezon- West Philippine Sea (WPS) conveners held a media conference bringing together various government organizations, groups, and civil society organizations (CSOs) that discussed protection and sustainability in the Queen Margarette Hotel, here on Friday, July 21.
It was launched by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Energy (DOE), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), together with the state universities and colleges along the WPS, and facilitated by Atty. Asis Perez from Tanggol Kalikasan and former national director of the BFAR.
Asec. Lilian De Leon of DILG encouraged government agencies to participate in the protection, preservation, conservation, and sustainable use of the resources in the area.
“We are here to unite and cooperate to sustain and protect our natural resources, especially our seas, and how we can help coastal resource management from ridge to reef as well as the livelihood and food security of our communities,” De Leon said.
According to Col. Roy Derilo of the Department of National Defense (DND) stressed the importance of sovereignity.
“To be able to win our fight in the WPS, we must be able to exercise sovereignty. The best way to start our sovereignty is what the DILG is doing, by strengthening local governance. With the private sector and NGOs, we have to increase or revive our research for our resources,” Derilo pointed out during the conference.
Meanwhile, Asec. Elizabeth Lopez-De Leon of the DILG also attended the media briefing and stressed the importance of the community’s engagement in this effort for the WPS.
USec JV Llamas of DILG stated that the WPS is part of the Philippines and supports the livelihood of many Filipinos.
“It is not just a body of water with rocks and islands but a natural resource with a robust marine biodiversity that can provide food and livelihood to many Filipinos,” Usec Llamas said.
The convenors use the media to inform the public and mobilise people to take action by urging them to participate in efforts to safeguard, conserve, and sustain our country’s resources and WPS area. (Anna Gob)
DZDG News Team
