PIA Press Release
Friday, January 06, 2012 Gov’t releases P270-M to jumpstart Laguna De Bay rehabMANILA, Jan. 6 -- To jumpstart the urgent development of Laguna de Bay as a sustainable multi-use lake, President Benigno S. Aquino III instructed the Department of Budget and Management to release P270 million for scientific projects that would improve the lake’s water quality. Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the released funding will be issued to the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to initiate six projects that would establish pollution prevention and water filtration facilities, as well as reform activities to make the agency more functional and effective. “Environment sustainability that benefits all is among the key priorities of President Aquino. This administration aims to rescue Laguna de Bay from environmental blight and to revive its role as a source of life and livelihood in Luzon,” he said, noting that the projects being funded were initiated by LLDA General Manager and Secretary Nereus Acosta, PhD. Of the P270 million, P79.5 million will be used for the Laguna de Bay Quality Management Restoration Water Parks, which will help mitigate and control the bay’s degradation process. These facilities, which employ bioremediation technology, will help accelerate natural ecological processes and establish momentum for environmental improvement. The construction of the LLDA headquarters, envisioned to be the first “green, climate-sensitive and energy-efficient” government building to house LLDA laboratories and permanent offices, will also be funded with P100 million. “The construction of the eco-friendly building showcases the Aquino administration’s commitment to mainstream ecological- and climate-change-sensitive governance,” Abad said. Meanwhile, P50 million will be used to upgrade the LLDA’s outdated laboratory equipment and instruments. Also, P21 million will go toward concreting the road from Sitio Pantay, Barangay Dalig to Teresa Recovery Facility (MRF) and Teresa Learning Center and Eco Park (LRCEP), which are gaining popularity for their environmentally sound activities. Also to be funded is the P15-million LLDA Project Feasibility Development Team, which is essential in enhancing, augmenting, and strengthening the developmental mandate of LLDA beyond its regulatory functions. Finally, P4.5 million will be allocated to the procurement of motor boats for LLDA to aid in surveillance and monitoring activities on the lake surface. (DBM) |
