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Laguna Lake Development Authority Board Resolution No. 285, Series of 2006 |
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THE LAGUNA DE BAY DECLARATION 2006 ADOPTING PARTNERSHIP BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT AS A CORE STRATEGY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LAGUNA DE BAY AND IT WATERSHED Preamble For
hundreds of years, the Laguna de Bay Basin has faithfully provided
life support to its dwellers. Its
bounties continue to benefit millions of people from all walks of
life. It is a God-given resource, worthy of the highest levels of
conservation and protection. Today,
Laguna de Bay is not in the best of health. Human activities all
over the watershed impact greatly on the quality of the lake and its
environment. Abusive and apathetic behavior, in many forms, continue
to occur. Excessive discharge of pollutants from domestic,
industrial and agricultural sources, indiscriminate extraction of
resources from the Lake and over fishing, open dumping of solid and
liquid waste into rivers and creeks, all these factors have caused
the Lake to deteriorate. The
largest lake in the Philippines, Laguna de Bay is in urgent need of
concrete and unified rehabilitative action from all stakeholders in
and around the Laguna de Bay Region. In the past, we have forged
agreements and have vowed to work together to protect and conserve
the Lake. To be sure, over the past years, individual and collective
efforts have increased significantly. However, even greater effort
will be required to address the urgent need to restore this stressed
Lake. Rapid rise in population and urban sprawl, increased
industrial and economic development within the Laguna Lake basin
have created enormous challenges to conserving and protecting the
lake for posterity. There
can be no greater measure than to engage everyone – individuals,
communities, governments, civic and non-government organizations,
businesses and academic institutions – to meet the challenges of
conserving, protecting, and preparing the lake for the children of
the future generation. We now reaffirm our solidarity with the cause
of environmental protection and renew our commitment to assume full
responsibility for the restoration of Laguna de Bay. BY THIS DECLARATION, the Laguna Lake Development Authority commits
itself to nurture and sustain a Laguna de Bay Partnership that shall
actively work for the conservation, protection and restoration of
the largest and most dynamic inland body of water in the
Philippines. Resolution
No. 285, Series of 2006 Page
2 _____________________________/ WE RECOGNIZE that the state of Laguna de Bay, its continued ability
to provide the benefits currently enjoyed by the citizens in the
watershed, is ultimately linked to the actions of every citizen in
the watershed. WE AFFIRM that the cumulative benefit derived from community-based
environmental enhancement initiatives is essential for a healthier
lake and a sustainable watershed. WE COMMIT ourselves to engage citizens of the region by promoting a
broad conservation ethic throughout the fabric of community life and
foster within all citizens a deep sense of understanding of their
roles as stewards of their own local environments. WE WILL STRIVE to ensure the continuous flow of and easy access to
information on the lake and its watershed for the use of the general
public and various technical audiences.
WE COMMIT ourselves to work with individuals, ordinary citizens,
community-based organizations, businesses, local governments,
academic institutions and Indigenous Peoples in realizing the common
goals and objectives of conserving and protecting the lake for
posterity. WE REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT to strengthen existing partnerships with
fishers and farmers, River Councils and Non-government
organizations, local government units, businesses and industries,
international as well as local funding agencies and donor
institutions. WE WILL CONTINUE to forge linkage and partnerships with various
sectors and groups and strive to provide opportunities for
citizens’ groups to directly participate in local restoration and
protection projects. WE WILL ENDEAVOR to increase the resources available to localities
to meet the challenges of protecting the lake and its watershed. We
will seek to enhance funding for locally based programs that pursue
environmental enhancement and protection objectives. BY THIS DECLARATION, we submit ourselves to the conservation,
protection and restoration of the ecological integrity, productivity
and beneficial uses of Laguna de Bay and its watershed. APPROVED
this 22nd day of August 2006 on the occasion of the 2nd
Annual Learning Forum held at the Development Academy of the
Philippines (DAP) Conference Center, Tagaytay City.
ATTESTED
BY:
(SGD)
ATTY.
JOAQUIN G. MENDOZA Board Secretary V
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