News Release

PTO. DIAZ FETED AS 2009 OUTSTANDING WETLAND CONSERVATIONIST

SORSOGON PROVINCE (February 12) – The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Prieto Diaz, this province, has proven its exemplary contribution in the wise use of their wetlands after bagging the Outstanding Wetlands Conservationist for the Local Government Unit (LGU) category in the Philippine Wetlands Conservation Award (PWCA) for 2009 spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB).

Prieto Diaz municipal Mayor Benito Doma, personally received the said award in Manila on February 2, this year, coinciding with the national celebration of the World Wetlands Day.

It can be noted that four local government units (LGUs) in this province were nominated by the DENR provincial office to the 2009 Philippine Wetlands Conservation Awards which include Sorsogon City, Prieto Diaz, Bulan and Castilla towns sometime in February last year.

Sorsogon Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Oscar Dominguez said that LGU – Prieto Diaz was chosen for establishing an integrative effort in conserving, protecting and sustainably managing their wetland ecosystem through the passage of local ordinances, community empowerment, restoration and rehabilitation of mangrove plantation and establishment of marine sanctuary, partnership and linkaging, among others.

Other awardees for LGU category was LGU – Amlan of Negros Oriental in Visayas.

Apart from this, two other LGUs were given special citations for their specific contributions in wetland rehabilitation. These were Bais City in Negros Oriental for “Science Based Mangrove Rehabilitation of Bais Bay”, and the Municipality of Bani in Pangasinan for its effort to establish and manage the “Bangrin Mangroves”.

Each LGU winner receives a plaque of recognition and cash prize worth P50,000.oo from Ford Foundation, San Miguel Corporation and Manila Water, while the special citation receive each a plaque of recognition.

There were no winners declared for the Individual and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)/ People’s Organizations (POs) Category.

The Philippine Wetlands Conservation Award is a pioneering incentive award that started in 1994 during the term of then DENR Secretary Elizea Gozun. The award recognizes significant contributions of individuals, NGOs, POs and LGUs in the sustainable use of the country’s wetlands.

This year’s theme for the World Wetland Day celebration is “Caring for Wetlands: An Answer to Climate Change”.

The World Wetland day celebration is among the DENR-PAWB’s long list of event for the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity. (Bennie A. Recebido, PIA Sorsogon)