Atienza Backs Karera sa Kalikasan Stakes Race

MANILA, Philippines - In line with its campaign to protect and preserve the environment and natural resources, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through Secretary Lito Atienza is sponsoring the Karera Para Sa Kalikasan Stakes Race hosted by Manila Jockey Club today at the San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park (SLLBP) in Carmona, Cavite.

Today’s main event is the “Sec. Lito Atienza Cup” which offers P75,000 for the winner plus trophies to the owner, trainer and jockey. The runner-up gets P30,000 while the third and fourth finishers take home P10,000 and P5,000, respectively.

Lending support to the main race are 10 trophy races, each offering P20,000 as added prize to the winner only. The trophy races are Save Taal Lake, Save The Philippine Eagle, Vote Puerto Princesa Underground River, Run for The Trees, Gloria Ng Kalikasan, Save Manila Bay, Save Laguna Lake, Manilenyo ang Kalikasan, Save Pasig River, and Celebrate Earth Day on April 22.

“I would like to request the bayang karerista and all the people in the racing industry for their support and help promote the DENR’s programs for the protection and preservation of our environment and natural resources. I wish to thank MJC chairman Alfonso Reyno Jr. for hosting this affair,” said Atienza.

“It is a great honor for the MJC to host such a valuable and worthwhile event aimed at reaching out to everyone, strengthening our awareness and promoting its advocacy in the protection and preservation of our environment and natural resources,” Reyno said.

Source: The Philippine Star

Secretary Lito Atienza Acts To Rehabilitate Laguna de Bay

Enivonment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza wants to restore the pristine beauty of Laguna de Bay.

For this purpose, he has identified two measures to bring back the clear waters of the 90,000-hectare water body.

Atienza said the first measure which could bring back the glory of Laguna de Bay is the dismantling of fishpens that are now choking the lake.

The other action, he said, is a thorough review of the functions and operations of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), a government agency which has supervisory and regulatory powers over the lake.

LLDA is under the administrative control of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

"Fishpens have occupied almost the entire lake. Laguna de Bay is dying, and drastic efforts must be made to restore its ecological health," Atienza said.

The DENR chief said residues of fish feeds and their chemical content have immensely contributed to the rapid degradation of Laguna de Bay's condition. "The situation is further worsened by the dumping of effluents into the lake after payment of fees to LLDA," he noted.

"The lake's murky waters, the neverending cycle of fishkills and red tide, including the bad taste of fishes caught in the lake already prod us to undertake radical measures to save Laguna de Bay," Atienza said.

In calling for a review and revision of LLDA functions and regulations, Atienza said that LLDA is largely dependent for its existence on the fees being collected from fishpen owners and those who dump effluents into the water body.

"The LLDA has become a revenuedriven agency. Highly-dependent on users' fees to finance its operations, it has been aggressively charging fees left and right. With the thrust, the agency which is supposed to protect the lake will allow anyone to discharge effluents into the lake for a fee. This is very tragic," Atienza said.

He said the LLDA must be given appropriate budget to carry out its role in protecting the lake. "The status of LLDA is akin to hiring a policeman who does not receive any salary but is given a badge and an identification card and told to fend for himself," Atienza said.

Atienza also instructed LLDA personnel during a briefing at the DENR this week to focus on finding ways and implementing measures to protect Laguna de Bay from furtherl degradation.

He directed LLDA officials and employees to "exercise prudence" in demanding environment compliance certificates from owners of establishments.

Source: Manila Bulletin