Beach protection program on with coming of summer

By Freddie G. Lazaro

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — With the coming of summer, officials of La Union, intensified their campaign to protect its pristine beaches to maintain beautiful view and attract more tourists who are starting to come in droves.

Gov. Manuel Ortega ordered the Provincial Agriculture Office to intensify planting of trees appropriate for all coastal barangays of the province to complement programs to plant thousands of mangrove saplings in the province’s coastal towns with the assistance of national agencies.

Ortega said this initiative is one of his strategies aimed at maintaining the recent award received by La Union from the Region 1 Development Council as regional champion on Coastal Resource Management.

Ortega noted protection of beaches in the province is in partnership with non-government organizations and local government units to be able to sustain programs that are already in place.

He said an artificial reef project has been established in Balaoan, La Union with the cooperation of the Department of Tourism and HOLCIM Philippines.

"The success of projects on marine protection in our province will be replicated this year in more areas. The municipality of Bauang and HOLCIM Philippines are now drafting a memorandum of agreement to install artificial reefs in its beaches," Ortega said.

Ortega also said that the SangguniangPanlalawigan has denied three separate applications for mineral explorations along the coastlines of La Union.