LLDA's Manda launches Save Laguna Lake Coalition

Manila Bulletin 

by: David Cagahastian

March 02, 2008

Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) General Manager Edgardo Manda has launched the Save the Laguna Lake Coalition with environmental groups to consolidate efforts to protect and preserve the Laguna Lake, the country's biggest lake and an important watershed for many Metro Manila residents.

Manda said the unabated intrusion of squatters along the lakeshore remains the biggest threat to the Laguna Lake, once considered a "living lake" but which Manda now considers as dying with the pollution brought by squatters and shoreland encroachment even by local governments.

The LLDA general manager said among the coalition's strategies for the protection and preservation of the Laguna Lake are promoting awareness among the residents in Southern Luzon and Metro Manila of the lake's significance and appealing to government to enforce the laws for the lake's protection.

Manda is also advocating the reforestation of the lake's watershed with bamboo plants which serve as "carbon sinks" which are believed to suck carbon from the earth's atmosphere for storage so global warming is slowed down.

The newly launched Save the Laguna Lake Coalition will start its environmental awareness program with a cycling event on April 26 and 27 around the Laguna Lake's shoreline.

The cycling event is part of the activities to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 which will focus on preservation efforts for water resources.

Manda said activities to promote awareness of the significance of the Laguna Lake would be organized each year, aside from yearlong efforts to preserve the lake.

He said the enforcement of laws to protect the lake would have been enough for the lake's protection and preservation amid settling of squatters along the lakeshore and encroachment by local governments for their projects ranging from multi-purpose buildings to housing and open dump sites.

The Save the Laguna Lake Coalition is composed of environmental groups like the Earth Day Network Philippines and the Green Army, and cycling enthusiasts like the Philippine Cycling Federation and the Fireflies Brigade.