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

Mayor Lito Atienza's Accomplishments in Manila and at the DENR

This video shows the accomplishments of Mayor Lito Atienza in Manila and at the DENR.




Source: www.youtube.com

Lito Atienza's Message for all the Manilenyos

Here are some messages from former DENR Secretary Lito Atienza for all Manilenyos.




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Subsidize Movie Industry – Lito Atienza

Former DENR Secretary and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said that the only way we can bring back the golden years of the local movie industry is for the government to subsidize movie production.

He said that in other countries, the movie industry is subsidized from a minimum of 50% to 100%. “That’s the only way the industry can survive competition with foreign movies which are highly budgeted!”

The Metro Manila Film Festival originated from Manila, then known as the Manila Film Festival – initiated by then Mayor Antonio J. Villegas – and then expanded by then First Lady Imelda Marcos to become the Metro Manila Film Festival.

During the nine-year term of Atienza as Manila mayor, the Manila Film Festival was successfully held every month of June, as part of the city’s annual celebration of its foundation.

“I could not imagine a country without a movie industry,” Atienza earlier said when the industry began facing acute financing problems and marketing.

Tourism is what Atienza will enhance, given the opportunity to become once again the father of the City of Manila. For instance, he would pursue claiming back the city’s administration of Intramuros.

“We have started claiming Intramuros long before,” Atienza said. The historical Intramuros has been under the administration of the Department of Tourism (DoT) for quite a long time.

Under the City Hall, Intramuros can accelerate its development as the prime historical tourism and entertainment destination in the country.

“I would also transform Baywalk along Roxas Blvd. as a wholesome entertainment strip,” Atienza said. “People can go there and watch or listen to live music provided by the country’s top performers as well as upcoming ones.”

The Baywalk was stripped of any form of entertainment installations or kiosks by Mayor Fred Lim when he took over the city’s chief executive office. Mayor Lim also installed more decorative lights along Roxas Blvd.

“I will improve the lighting along Roxas Blvd.,” Atienza said. “I’ll make the lights brighter so that snatchers or robbers will not stalk the area and victimize innocent people who go there for entertainment.”

Another project which Atienza will resume is the weekly production of the TV program “Maynila” which deals on various improvements of the city along a storyline that is entertaining. “It also helped developed actors, writers, and other productions and creative staff.”

When Atienza was still the mayor, he converted Avenida Rizal from Carriedo St. to Claro M. Recto a promenade, covering the street with colorful tiles. Business was adversely affected along the area because passenger jeepneys and taxis were not allowed to enter or pass through.

Atienza said he would improve the same portion of the road, making it more pedestrian-friendly while at the same time cater to commercial transportation.

While his son Kim would help him in his political campaign, Atienza said that Kim has already found his niche in showbiz, and it is very unlikely that he would leave his showbiz career. “In fact, I am already being introduced as the father of Kim,” the former mayor said.

Source: www.mb.com.ph

DENR Sec. Lito Atienza Gives Marriage Advice To Pacquiao

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza told us during a get together with the entertainment media in his office in Quezon City recently that his very good friend Manny Pacquiao comes to him for advice about almost anything under the sun, including his political plan and yes, his marriage.

The solid family man Sec. Atienza told us that he has always been advising Manny to keep his wife Jinkee happy. “I told him Jinkee and his kids and his sport should be his priority. They are his family and there is nothing that can compare to a happy, intact family who is solidly behind you in your career. That’s what I tell him all the time,” Sec. Atienza said when we inquired about the advice he gives on Manny about his love life.

Sec. Atienza is confident that Manny believes him and that he is confident that the champ will heed the snippets of wisdom that he shares with him. He said Manny, however, never came to him to seek his advice about any actress. “And no, he never introduced any girl to me. I don’t think Manny will ever do that,” Sec. Atienza replied when asked again if he knew of Krista Ranillo, the current girl being linked to the boxing champ.

The DENR Secretary, who is poised to run as Mayor of Manila in the 2010 elections, says he stands pat on his advice to Manny to just seek a Party List nomination if he wants to serve as a politician. “I have told him that championing the cause of sports, rather than involving himself with the local politics in his hometown will be best for him. I am still confident that he will see the light in that advice. Let’s just wait and see,” he said.

Sec. Atienza declares he will still run under his very own Liberal Party, despite the “political maneuvering he suffered from the party.” “I am a Liberal Party member by heart, since the beginning and has never abandoned my party. I will remain to be a Liberal Party member for the rest of my life. I was there at the Plaza Miranda being proclaimed as a Liberal Party candidate for councilor, along with Gerry Roxas and Ninoy Aquino when that bombing occurred. No one else can say that they have been a true Liberal Party member the same way I have been. Kaya walang karapatan ang kahit na sino na sabihing sila ang Liberal Party,” he said.

Source: www.mb.com.ph