Vol. XVIII No. 1 August 2012 - JBLFMU Molo - John B. Lacson ...

The Seagull
News Feature
P-Noy graces 1st International River Summit; JBLFMU-M participates
By Mdpwn. Kate Mergell M. Nullada and Mdpn. Angelo P. Ragasa
P-noy giving his closing message during the summit
Delegates looking at the proposed project plan for
the development of Iloilo River
President Benigno Aquino III
supported the celebration of the1st
International River Summit at the
Centennial Resort Hotel and Convention
Center, Alta Tierra Village, Jaro, Iloilo City,
May 30- June 1.
P-noy joined the last day of the
celebration as the guest speaker of the said
summit.
Meanwhile, as a maritime institution
exercising corporate social responsibility,
JBLFMU-Molo was represented by Dr.
Rolando Alimen, JBLFMU - Molo Research
Coordinator, Mrs. Eda Joy Bulquiren,
Community Extension Service Society
(CESS) Coordinator, Dr. Jasper Victoriano
and 3/E Antonio Nonesco participated in
the three-day River Summit with the theme:
“My River, My Life” under Academe sectors.
“This is the first time that a local
government would host an international
gathering on the issue of river management,”
said Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City.
The summit aimed to stimulate
discussion, learning and action among
experts, local governments, Non-
Government Organizations (NGO’s), private
sector and the academe, specifically on
river basin governance, climate change and
disaster risk reduction, water quality and
water resources management, biodiversity
management, and eco-tourism.
In addition, systematizing the rivers
and implementing the Clean Water Act that
includes the designation of seven water
quality management areas; the adoption
of 160 water bodies by 260 partners in
the DENR’s “Adopt an Estero/Waterway”
program; and the implementation of the
National Greening Program in part to restore
and rehabilitate the country’s watersheds
and mangroves was also discussed during
the forum.
“The DENR has taken the first step
by proposing the observance of Philippine
River Day every year on March 22, to increase
awareness of our campaign to restore and
preserve rivers all over the Philippines—
from the Pasig River, which is almost at my
doorstep, to the Iloilo River, which is right
on yours. The commemoration of Philippine
River Day will give a venue to unite our
efforts to save our rivers and remind us
of our duty to the environment—a duty
that must be fulfilled every day,” P-Noy said
during his speech.
Meantime, scientists from the
Canadian Urban Institute, the Patuxent
Wildlife Center in Maryland, the University
of Queensland in Australia, and local
government executives and river basin
managers from countries like Korea,
Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam,
and Philippines were the presenters and
speakers in the said summit.
Moreover, Canadian Urban Institute,
PLDT Company, Petron Corporation, Smart
Communications, Inc., National Geographic
Channel, San Miguel Corporation, and
media groups such as TV5, Philippine News
Agency, and the Philippine Information
Agency (PIA) also co-supported the event.
Furthermore, students from BS
Tourism and Marine Engineering also served
as volunteer ushers and usherettes during
the three-day conference.
On the other hand, during the
summit Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that
the next International River Summit will be
hosted by the city of Marikina in 2014.
Source: http://www.gov.ph/2012/06/01/speech-of-presidentaquino-at-the-1st-philippine-international-river-summit-june-1-2012/
(Top) The River Summit Organizer with the participants. (bottom, L-R) Cong. Jerry Treñas, Mar Roxas,
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Sen. Franklin Drilon
and Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
4