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PARTNERING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AMIDST ADVERSITY. The Provincial Government of La Union recently received a plaque of recognition from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office 1 led by Regional Executive Director Atty. Crizaldy M. Barcelo, during their courtesy call to Gov. Pacoy on October 12, 2020 at the Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union. The PGLU has been recognized by the DENR for its commitment to uphold environmental sustainability amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Also joining the courtesy call were Mary Ann Escoto, DENR R1 Chief Administrative Officer; and Annalyn Rosario Valdez, PGLU Environment and Natural Resources Unit Chief.

As the Provincial Government of La Union works towards building a province worth living in for each constituent, it brings the updated provincial strategy, “Stronger La Union: Provincial Strategy on Response, Recovery, and Local Economic Development” to all Local Government Units (LGU) and Barangays through the distribution of Stronger La Union Kits which started on October 6, 2020 in Bangar La Union.

Each barangay will receive a Stronger La Union Kit containing the State of the Province Address (SOPA) brochure; survey cards, Stronger La Union poster and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) package for frontliners while each Local Government Unit will receive a kit containing SOPA brochure, Proficiency Report, eight survey cards, Stronger La Union poster and PPE package with care package label. 576 Barangays and 20 LGUs are expected to receive the Stronger La Union kits.

In the governor’s letter card to the barangay councils and health workers and volunteers, he expressed his gratitude for their sacrifices and cooperation to preserve the peace and safety in their jurisdictions, as he gave his assurance of support, “The PGLU is committed to support and work with you because we believe that together, we are stronger,” he written.

PGLU values the importance of collaboration as it persists in lifting the quality of lives of the people. Be one with us in building a #StrongerLaUnion because we are Stronger Together!

EnP. Annalyn Rosario-Valdez, Chairman of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee for Industrial Sand and Gravel Quarry Operations presides the 3rd quarter regular committee meeting on October 5, 2020 at the Office of the Provincial Governor – Environment and Natural Resources Unit (OPG-ENRU) Conference Hall.

Engr. John C. Ymson of Mines and Geosciences Bureau; Engr. Ryanne N. Narvaez of Environmental Management Bureau; Engr. Socrates G. Gaerlan of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region I; Mr. Gil G. Garcia of LORMA Community Development Foundation Incorporated; quarry permit holders of Rosario, Aringay, Sudipen, Tubao, and Bauang; representatives of each Local Governments Units; and the OPG-ENRU were present in the meeting.

Engr. Rommilyn V. Torio, Environmental Management Specialist II presented the results of multi-partite monitoring of industrial sand and gravel operations in La Union. Other agenda discussed were the status of fund and compliance monitoring of submission of reports of the permit holders.

HEALING AS ONE. Health and Safety Kits were distributed to various tourism enterprises in the Municipality of San Juan and the City of San Fernando on October 2, 2020. The Initiative which was launched by the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the La Union Provincial Tourism Office (LUPTO), is aimed at ensuring the safety of employees and visitors of establishments in the reopening of the tourism industry. This is also in preparation for the Ridge & Reef Baguio-Region 1 Travel Corridor program. 198 Kits are to be distributed to tourism enterprises all over the province.

REGREENING FOR STRONGER LA UNION. With the aim on greening of mining areas in La Union, the Office of the Provincial Governor – Environment and Natural Resources Unit spearheads bamboo planting with mining operators along the Bued River in Rosario, La Union on October 2, 2020. This is in line with the directive of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu to establish bamboo plantation in mining areas in the country. A total of 50 bamboo seedlings were planted in a mining area located along the Bued River. Due to high survival rate and usability of bamboo as compared to other trees or plant seedlings, DENR Secretary Cimatu plans to increase bamboo plantation in the country under the National Greening Program.

Amidst the worldwide CoViD-19 Pandemic, the Office of the Provincial Governor- Environment and Natural Resources Unit (OPG-ENRU) conducted underwater clean up activity in celebration of the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) 2020 on September 19, 2020 along the coastline of Paraoir and Almeida, Balaoan, La Union.
ICC is the largest volunteer effort for ocean’s health. It is being celebrated worldwide every third Saturday of September by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 470, S. 2003.
The activity was done in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg)-Fishery Division, Municipal and Barangay Local Government Units of Paraoir and Almeida, Balaoan, La Union including Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) and fishermen.
There were 40 participants in the activity. To ensure health and safety protocols, the activity was done in three groups to observe physical distancing. The first group performed underwater clean up in the area of Immuki Island, the second group performed waste picking along shoreline of Barangay Paraoir while the last group also collected waste in the shoreline of Almeida.
At the end of the activity, the first group (ENRU Staff) were able to collect 5.5 kilograms of residual waste which include CD, garments, plastic, broken bottle and rubber. On the other hand, group 2 and group 3 collected 11 kilograms of residual waste, mostly garments and recyclable waste, 7 pcs of plastic bottles.
Given the little amount of waste collected along the 300 meters shoreline of Barangay Paraoir and Almeida, it is observed that the area was well-maintained. The waste was then handed to barangay officials for proper disposal.

Scholars under the La Union Education Assistance and Scholarship Program (LUEASP) receive their cash assistance from the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) amounting to P10,000 each, on September 16-18, 2020.

The PGLU facilitated the distribution of cash assistance to the scholars in the city/municipal halls of their respective Local Government Units (LGUs). Proper minimum health standards were observed, such as wearing of facemasks, physical distancing and hand disinfection.

The college-level scholars were supposed to receive the said cash assistance during the second semester of Academic Year 2019-2020, but distribution was halted due to community quarantine imposed in the face of the CoViD-19 pandemic.

The cash assistance shall serve to support the studies of the scholars, who belong to low-income families. Currently, they are all enrolled in their respective colleges and universities in the province, under the online or ‘blended’ learning scheme.

Gov. Pacoy emphasizes the PGLU’s thrust on educational governance. In the midst of the challenges of the pandemic, the PGLU shall continue to support capable and goal-driven students and learners, who are determined in helping build a #StrongerLaUnion.