Bacnotan, La Union– Tanggol Kalikasan in partnership with the WPS Convenors led by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) successfully held the Provincial Caravan for the Province of La Union entitled “Bayanihang Adhikain, Bayaning Aksiyon Para Sa Kanlurang Dagat Ng Pilipinas”. The activity was held in the International Convention Center at Bacnotan, La Union, participated in by 191 participants from the regional and field offices of the national government agencies and by the provincial, city, and municipalities’ local government units in the province of La Union.
The event was officially opened by Mayor Divine Fontanilla, of Bacnotan. In her message to the participants and guests of the Provincial Caravan, Mayor Divine emphasized La Union’s firm stance on the West Philippine Sea issue and the importance of defending our rights over territorial waters, especially for the welfare of Filipino fishermen.
The Provincial Caravan focused on the National Security Policy, the importance of the West Philippine Sea, the Provincial Action Plan, a Message of Support, and a Commitment Wall Signing.
Among the speakers were Undersecretary Marlo L. Iringan, Undersecretary for Local Government of the DILG, Assistant Secretary Lilian M. De Leon for International Relations (DILG), Atty. Girly G. Dela Peña, Chief Training Superintendent for the Action Plan on the WPS of BFAR Region 1, the Strategy Formulation and Development Branch of the National Security Council, and Professor Celso Jucutan from DMMMSU.
Mayor Divine Fontanilla also participated in the Commitment Wall Signing, and the Municipality of Bacnotan received recognition for its participation in the Heroic Action for the Western Philippine Sea.
It was the fourth provincial caravan conducted under Strategic Approach 1 of the Project Restoring the Resources for Economic Sustainability of the West Philippine Sea (RESTORE-WPS). The strategy is being implemented by Tanggol Kalikasan with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF).
WPS Convenors Group is led by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Transportation DOTr), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MG), Technical Education, and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), Institutes of Environmental Governance (IEG) of Batanes State College, University of Northern Philippines, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Pangasinan State University, Central Luzon State University, University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, Western Philippine University, and MMSU; and local government offices and units in Ilocos Norte.