AGONCILLO, Batangas –The Taal Volcano Protective Landscape Protected Area Management Board (TVPL-PAMB) has proposed to local government legislators and House of Representatives lawmakers for a congressional measure that will create a Taal Lake Development Authority, similar to the Laguna Lake Development Authority.
The proposal was aired Thursday during TVPL-PAMB members meeting at Eco-Lodge in Barangay Pansipit here where stricter enforcement on environmental laws against pollution and illegal structures in the Taal Lake protective areas were tackled.
Batangas public information office chief Jenelyn A. Aguilera told PNA on Friday that the meeting was in response to the recommendation of the fisheries sub-committee to pass a resolution for the creation of the TVPL Law Enforcement Sector to protect the Taal Lake.
Various stakeholders who attended the meeting agreed that a body like Taal Lake Development Authority can address the various environmental problems in the lake.
They also agreed for a strict implementation of the environmental laws to protect the natural resources of the lake especially from wanton abuse by fish pen operators who put up illegal structures in the lake.
The PAMB also requested the integration of ordinances from the lake’s coastal towns concerning the lake’s protection and environmental conservation — pursuant to national laws pertaining to protected areas and landscapes.
TVPL-PAMB members also decided to further intensify their dialogues and consultations with all lake stakeholders to resolve the problems especially on pollution issues brought about by effluents or sewage from piggeries and human wastes strewn into the rivers that flow towards the lake thus destroying the lake’s ecosystem.
Protected Area Superintendent Jasmin Villanueva-Andaya presided over the conference with members of the TVPL-PAMB and Tanggol Kalikasan, an environment cause-oriented non-government organization and Protected Area Superintendent Environmental Law Enforcement Group represented by Atty. Asis Perez; Agoncillo Mayor Dan Reyes; Municipal Environmental and Natural Resources Officer Rodrigo Reyes; and Philippine Coast Guard officials.
The conference with various stakeholders of the Taal Volcano protected landscape focused on identifying the concerns and conditions of the lake and crafting measures to address current state of the TVPL environment due to pollution and illegal fish pens in the lake.
The conferees also reviewed and assessed the activities and projects that were implemented to oversee the Taal Lake environment last year and set out the programs to be implemented this year. (Saul Pa-aPNA)
