The current officials of Aklan province have shown once again that they care for the environment—this time their focus is trained on the province’s river, bays and coastline.
Nature has blessed the province with abundant natural resources, particularly rivers, streams, natural springs, waterfalls, and a coastline that stretches for about 155 kilometers.
The Aklan River is the longest river in the province, flowing from Capiz to Kalibo. Other rivers include the Ibajay, Tangalan, Jalon and Talon.
The Dumalaylay waterfall is the highest in the province, falling 100 meters. Meanwhile, Lake Lapu-Lapu is the only lake in Aklan, located in the northern Malay town.
These bodies of water provides the province with fish and othe marine resources, and its residents a life-long livelihood---provided conservation efforts by the provincial government and municipalities, along with assistance from the national government, are institutionalized.
Integrated management
In pursuance of the environmental and livelihood policies of Gov. Jose Enrique “Joen” Miraflores and Vice Governor Reynaldo Quimpo, the 19th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) or provincial board has approved the Aklan Rivers, Bays and Coasts Integrated Management (ABC) Strategy of the Province of Aklan.
The 19th Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan approved on its third and final reading an ordinance “Adopting the Aklan Rivers, Bays and Coasts Integrated Management as a Strategy for the Sustainable Development of the Province Of Aklan’s Upland, Riverine, Coastal, and Marine Environment, Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services, and Establishing Supporting Mechanisms for its Implementation and for other Purposes and Allocating Funds Therefor” during its 123rd Regular Session on January 27, 2025 at the SP session hall.
The said ordinance, also known as the “Aklan Rivers, Bays and Coasts Integrated Management (ABC) Strategy Ordinance,” aims to mainstream and institutionalize the ABC Integrated Management System into the local government mechanism in line with its mandate to sustainably manage the upland and highland, coastal and marine resources and environment as a basic service to the people who live in Aklan.
It likewise aims to strengthen governance in addressing aspects of sustainable development related to natural and human-induced hazards management, habitat protection, rehabilitation and management, water use and supply management, food security and livelihood management, and pollution reduction and waste management while maintaining the functional integrity of ecosystems in the entire province.
The local legislative measure also covers mineral resources management particularly the judicious exploitation of sand and gravel resources along the rivers system in the Province of Aklan.
Board member Jay E. Tejada, the main sponsor of the ordinance, explained during a committee hearing that the said policy was first proposed by the Aklan State University (ASU) Research Development in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The initial draft of the ordinance was first calendared during the SP’s 69th Regular Session on December 18, 2023 and was then referred to the Committee on Environment, which is chaired by Board Member Teddy C. Tupas, the Committee on Laws, Rules and Ordinances, chaired by BM Apolinar C. Cleope and the Committee on Agriculture and Aquatic Resources chaired by the BM Nemesio P. Neron, who are all included as co-sponsors of the said ordinance along with the Hon. Bayani M. Cordova who is a member of the committee on Agriculture.
This enactment was finalized after a series of committee hearings conducted on January 8, 2024, April 30, 2024, November 27, 2024 and January 13, 2025 where comments and position papers were solicited from various concerned agencies and Local Government Units in the province.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #OpinYonCoverStory