by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM
Weekly Kapehan guests on June 26, 2010 at Smokehauz Resto & Bar featured the newly elected officials of New Washington who are Mayor Edgar R. Peralta, Vice Mayor Jean T. Velarde, SB members Alberto M. Andrade and Junie D. Repiano. The topic is "First 100 Days", part of tri-media’s thrust of promoting transparency and accountability among public officials.
The record victory at the polls poses greater challenge in the quest to provide a better life for its growing constituents. Buoyed by vibrant economy, Mayor Peralta is determined to double efforts with his new mandate. He said that economic enterprise development could be the turning point in fiscal self-reliance. This early, he aims for first class municipal status. Obviously, he is indebted to business, professional, and labor unions who believed in his charisma and integrity.
Vice Mayor Velarde echoes this goal saying this is achievable. Presently, the SB has approved 250 resolutions and a score of ordinances promoting balanced approach to development. The lady is into her third term. She is serving as Pres. Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines, Aklan Chapter.
New Washington is re-classified as 3rd class municipality with average income of P150,000 per month mainly derived from maritime commerce. The town is noted for its fine natural harbor, delectable seafood and convention center. Cultural heritage list includes birthplace of Jaime Cardinal L. Sin, Pacto de Sangre and ASU College of Fisheries.
Mayor Peralta prioritizes four projects for implementation which are a) Education, b) Business establishments, c) Strengthen health care services, and d) peace & order.
Educational thrust would help fund barangays having room shortage and dilapidated school buildings. Community center in the Poblacion would be upgraded with computers and other high tech gadgets.
Satellite office in Mataphao will cater to the needs of eight remote interior barangays. People need not to go to the Poblacion to transact business like payment of real estate tax or securing community tax. A bagsakan terminal for agriculture and fishery goods will form part of the facility.
Health care services shall be a continuing program with established barangay health centers and regular visitation of nurses, midwives, and Rural Health Physician.
Peace and order is focused on illegal drugs, their management targets the youth and their parents.
Mayor Peralta is obviously frustrated over failure of national government to release P45 million for renovation and or retrofitting of Tambak breakwater infra. Even Tambak bridge and its vicinity need to be dredged in order to allow free flow of tidal water into Lagatik river. We couldn’t do anything on such a massive scale except to do patchwork job using concrete jackstones. During Typhoon Frank, Tambak breakwater was severely crippled that transport to and from the Provincial Capital was halted for several days.
However, the biggest challenge is dredging the whole length of Lagatik river now heavily silted and polluted. This makes the inter island navigation difficult to make regular port calls at the Poblacion. Culprit could be the unbridled proliferation of fish cages, baklads, mussel and oyster farms that impede water flow and abet unwanted sediments.
Washington is critically the food bowl of Aklan because of its improved agriculture and aquaculture industries. Data from DA-BFAR show that in 2007, total rice area is 1,421 hectares, 90 percent fully irrigated. Developed fishponds are 3,245 hectares. Augmenting the daily fish haul are 10 commercial fishing boats. Indeed this vast food resource is providential but could easily be wiped out by environmental disasters and mismanagement.
A strategy adopted by LGU New Washington on conservation and sustainability is mangrove reforestation. Flourishing ones are Ochando (10 has.), Cawayan (10 has.), Tambak, (10 has.), Guinbaliwan (10 has.), and Pinamuk-an (32 has.). All are located in Lagatik river ecosystem.
Contrary to claim of Mayor Peralta, New Washington has no fish sanctuary. As of 2010, BFAR Aklan lists only six municipalities namely: Batan, Buruanga, Ibajay, Malay, Nabas, and Tangalan with fish sanctuaries. Nevertheless, Mr. William B. Castillo, OIC Provincial Agriculturist in an interview said that they have initiated fish sanctuaries in Tambak, Polo, Cawayan and Fatima but program is aborted by LGU New Washington.
Furthermore, Ms. Alicia L. Robelo, Aquaculturist II, BFAR disclosed that based on Coastal Resources Management guidelines, fish sanctuaries could only be established in bays, coves, and inlets where corrals, seaweeds, and sea grass could be grown and provide food, sanctuary and spawning ground of fishes. Decidedly New Washington mangrove reforestation could not be classified as fish sanctuary.
Health condition of Lagatik river has worsen over the years. It has effectively reduced volume of fish catch and income of fisherfolks. Disappearance of seaweeds or "eaba-eaba" where it used to be plentiful three or four decades ago is an indication nothing has been done to mitigate the problem of pollution and siltation.
Speaking of water pollution, Mayor Peralta bewails effluents from Kalibo’s open dumpsite hurting New Washington fishery resources and beach resorts. We simply could not fulfill requirements embodied in RA 9300 or Solid Waste Management because of our geographic location. We humbly ask the provincial government to facilitate a site for our sanitary landfill.
Full coverage of the Kapehan is facilitated with cooperation of Aklan CTV. /MP
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