By Vicky s. Mendoza

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, April 10 (PIA) – Local government officials, business owners and residents of Coron town forged an agreement with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the protection of Coron Bay.

Engr. Czes Bongco, Environmental Management Specialist of DENR said water contamination around Coron Bay must be contained through the support and cooperation of local residents and tourism stakeholders.

The parties to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) adhere to the objectives of Republic Act No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 wherein the State shall pursue a policy of economic growth in a manner consistent with the protection, preservation and revival of fresh, brackish and marine waters.

“To achieve this end, the framework for sustainable development shall be pursued. We are here to lead and guide. Coron is blessed with a mayor who has a political will to implement the agreement and the laws against environment policies violators” , Bongco said.

With the MOA signing, the DENR launched in Coron the Adopt-a-Water-Body Program to promote active participation of the public and private sector in the protection of Coron Bay.

DENR will be the primary agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use of Coron’s environment. EMB is mandated to restore, protect and enhance environment quality towards good public health, environmental integrity and economic viability and implement several environment-related laws.

Many private establishments signified interest to support the environmental improvement of Coron Bay. These are Underwater Garden Resort, Sophia’s Garden Resort, Coron Hiltop View Resort, Sunz En Coron Corp, APB, Tapyas View Deck Hotel, Balaibinda Lodge, Busuanga Island Paradise, Princess of Coron, Micasa Lodge, Club Paradise, Calamian Islands Power Corp., Corto Del Mar Hotel, Eupac, Inc., SSTDI, The Funny Lion Inn, Hikari Ssp Corp., Hikari SSP Corp., and Palawan Aquaculture.

Coron Mayor Fems Reyes led the MOA signing witnessed by the Sangguniang Bayan member John Patrick Matta, Engr. Fernando Lopez, manager of Coron’s Solid Waste Management Program. (VSM/CORON-IO/PIA4b/Palawan)