LAOAG CITY, July 3 — The Provincial Environment and National Resources Office (PENRO), together with some local government agencies here, conducted various activities to protect and restore Ilocos Norte’s Paoay Lake National park during the celebration of environment month.
The group carried out environmental assessment such as water quality testing, animal survey, waste disposal system, and farming practices of households around the Lake’s watershed.
The barangays that submitted said assessment include Nangguyudan, Sungadan, and Suba, in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
PENR officer Juan P. de los Reyes Jr. said the assessment generally aimed to undertake precautionary measures for the protection of the lake and its adjacent watersheds.
“The lake is very critical not just for Paoay folks and their neighboring towns but for the whole province, thus we intend to raise the bar and take the lead for protection and management of Paoay Lake,” de los Reyes said.
Before conducting the assessment of households, a series of water quality testing and animal surveys were undertaken by INWD and PVet to check the water condition of the lake and record migratory bird counts as well as other animals.
Apart from the assessment and monitoring activities, a clean- up drive within the Paoay Lake area was also undertaken along with some local officials.
“Management and protection of the Paoay Lake National Park and all our natural resources should not only be performed by DENR or PENRO, rather it is a collective task mandated by law enjoining every citizen to give due care and safeguard our environment as a social responsibility,” De los Reyes added.
On June 25, a massive tree planting activity at the Paoay Lake National Park was also undertaken participated in by different sectors of the province for the protection of the Ilocos Norte’s top protected landscape. (ANL/CDG-PIA 1, Ilocos Norte)
