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The Office of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Bauang, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Unit, Philippine National Police Bauang, Bauang Fishing Group Consumers Cooperative and other stakeholders conducted a coastal clean-up and mangrove tree planting at the Bauang Bakawan Eco-Tourism Park on November 28, 2020.

300 mangrove seedlings were planted on a 300 sq.m. area of the Bauang mangrove forest. The Bauang Bakawan, found in a 162.42-hectare area in Barangays Pudoc and Parian Oeste of Bauang, La Union, is the house of 12 mangrove species that serve as protection from natural calamities and as livelihood of communities in the area. Likewise, it is a budding eco-tourism destination in the province particularly for nature lovers.

In her message, Mayor Menchie L. De Guzman said that more than a beautiful and fulfilling experience, planting bakawan is a mission to give back what is due to mother nature. She also informed that programs and projects are already laid out to improve the area that will eventually benefit the community and to realize their dreams of an improved quality of life.

The next task, the Mayor said, is to monitor the progress of the activity. The participants committed to return to the planting site to nurture what was been planted and the mangrove forest as a whole.

SP Secretary Donato A. Rimando explained that the coastal clean-up and mangrove tree planting activities are some of the components of the strategic initiatives of the Office of the SP coined as “LegislaTour Level-up.” These activities aim to provide developmental interventions, such as the tree planting activity and coastal clean-up and periodic progress monitoring in the area as the counterpart of the office in order to become a promising Agri-Tourism site. It is also the office’s contribution to the attainment of the La Union’s vision to be the “Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025.”

The Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) convenes on November 26, 2020 via video conference to discuss the status of implementation of the 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plans of La Union; review the draft ordinance on the prohibition of single-use plastic in La Union; present the proposed special waste management system; and give updates on the waste-to-energy projects in La Union.

Provincial Director Virgilio P. Sison of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, vice-chairperson of the board, presided the meeting. Members of the board were mayors of component city and municipalities, representatives of 1st and 2nd district of La Union, Chairman of Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Committee on Environment and Energy, Chairman of SP on Committee on Health, Provincial Health Officer, Provincial General Services Officer, Provincial Engineer, Provincial Budget Officer, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Department of Science and Technology Provincial Director, Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director, La Union Police Provincial Office Provincial Director, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University President, Commission on Higher Education Regional Director, Chairman of the Board of La Union Vibrant Women, Inc., HMDC Manager, and President of Junkshop Association of City of San Fernando.

Representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau Region 1, Ms. Gemmalyn De Guzman, presented the results of monitoring of implementation of solid waste management plans in La Union. Most of the LGUs are compliance with the various sections of the plan.

Representative of Office of the Provincial Governor-Environment and Natural Resources Unit presented the draft ordinance on the prohibition of single-use plastics and the proposed special waste management system for households and Local Government Unit-owned facilities.

Representative from Satrap Power Corporation was also invited to present the updates on the proposed waste-to-energy project in Bacnotan, La Union. Representative from the Ecological Solid Waste Solutions Incorporation was also invited to present their solid waste technology during the meeting.

The Provincial Government of La Union continues to initiate projects with partners for the conservation of the environment in La Union.

With the aim of protecting and conserving the coastal and marine habitat in the province, the Office of the Governor- Environment and Natural Resources Unit (OPG-ENRU) conducted a five -day Basic Scuba Diving Training at Ocean Deep Training Center, San Francisco, City of San Fernando, La Union on October 12-13, 2020 for the academics discussions and film viewing and November 24-26, 2020 for the water works series of actual diving.

The activity was participated in by eight staff from the City of San Fernando and the Municipal Coastal Local Government Units (LGUs) of Bacnotan, San Juan, Bauang and Agoo, La Union as well as staff from the ENRU and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Fishery Division.

The need for local divers is essential to strengthen local staff capacity underwater. This will ensure their valuable assistance in the conduct of coastal resource assessment, monitoring and evaluation conducted by Department of Environment and Natural Resources / Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Coastal Resource Assessment is used to evaluate the performance of program and/or projects set up by the government in managing the coastal resources. Its goal is to improve current and future management.

Moreover, improving the local staff capability will give them the opportunity to visualize the actual scenario under water and to recognize and confirm the need for management actions that were common in nature such as active management intervention, stronger enforcement, organizational strengthening and others. This will also encourage cooperation among stakeholders and prompt management response.

To capacitate all coastal LGUs in the province, the OPG-ENRU plans to conduct again another batch for the CY 2021. Trained coastal LGUs also ensure their active participation in any coastal management and develop programs, projects and activities.

With the directive of Gov. Pacoy, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) took immediate action in the request of the Municipality of Luna for an augmentation of 768 relief packs on November 25, 2020 due to the increasing number of CoVid-19 cases in the municipality.
Representatives from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Engineering Office and General Services Office turned over the relief packs to the Local Government Unit which immediately distributed the goods to affected families in Barangays Alcala, Salcedo, Barrientos, Santo Domingo Sur and Magallanes.
As of November 25, 2020, the Municipality of Luna has a total of 25 active cases with the Barangays Alcala and Salcedo on strict lockdown.
The PGLU continues to give support to all LGUs in the fight against CoVid-19 in order to build a #StrongerLaUnion, a province worth living in.

LOVE THY WOMAN (R.A. 9262). In celebration of the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), Non Uniformed Personnel Irish C. Fangwa from the City of San Fernando Police Station talks about womens’ rights on November 25, 2020 to the patients and watchers at the Out Patient Department of Bacnotan District Hospital. NUP Fangwa also enumerated and discussed the acts of violence committed against women.

A total of 28 Person Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) of the La Union Provincial Jail (LUPJ) empowered during the focused group discussion (FGD) on Self-reflection at the Provincial Jail in Barangay Camansi, City of San Fernando on November 25, 2020.

The participants focus on the topic “Myself as a Person” where the detainees learned that knowing themselves is true wisdom. Everybody shared their strengths and weaknesses.

The said activity is a prevention and management strategy of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the LUPJ in collaboration with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to reduce the burden of COVID-19 Pandemic to the inmates since prison visits are temporarily suspended not only in La Union, but nationwide.

To reduce boredom among the detainees, the LUPJ made adjustments to prison substitute activities where access to equipment and the internet are provided free of charge to contact their loved ones. Secured phone handsets are also available and other communication methods were encouraged, such as writing letters, increased access to telephone landlines, and mobile phones through the use of voicemail and videocall service like group chats or SMS.

Moreover in LUPJ, measures have been implemented to reduce disease transmission within prisons through infection control protocols (proper entry screening and mass screenings inside detention facilities, avoiding overcrowding, staggering meal and recreation times and face coverings), signages, information education awareness and creating isolation units for infected patients to halt the disease’s further spread.

The effects of the pandemic are considerable but they also create opportunities for new, innovative methods of supporting detainees and for strengthening links between health care, criminal justice, and government agencies, with potential long-lasting benefits. The PGLU shares the BJMP’s view that detainees deserve the same standard of health care as in the community.

In the spirit of Bayanihan, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) extended financial and in-kind assistance to the victims of flooding in Cagayan on November 22, 2020.

On behalf of Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III, Executive Assistant IV Justo Orros III and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office turned over to Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba the La Union’s financial assistance amounting to Php200,000.00 to the province and Php100,000.00 was also turned over to the towns of Baggao, Enrile, Aparri and Santo Niño in Cagayan which are requiring additional relief assistance as per the province’s assessment. PGLU’s financial assistance was approved by virtue of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 1252-2020. Php100,000.00 was also turned over to the province from the Municipality of San Juan, La Union.

Through the PGLU’s “With Love, La Union; Sharing our Blessings Program,” donations from residents, PGLU employees, and La Union stakeholders were gathered and turned over on the same day. A six-wheeler truck contained assorted goods and water, medicines, hygiene kits, and other relief goods.

The Province of Cagayan was gravely hit by flooding as an effect of the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses. True to the province’s name, La Union gives high regards to unity. Thus, we continue to give assistance to other provinces in need.