PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) -- The Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas is pushing the partnership of barangays with government and civil society organizations to increase their involvement with conservation initiatives in Palawan.
Liga Palawan chapter president Ferdinand Zaballa assured barangays that they are supportive of the conservation efforts and could extend necessary assistance, such as manpower.
His manifestation of commitment was prompted by the observation that partnerships are usually done at the level of local chief executives, with sometimes little involvement from the barangay council.
“Kami kasi sa Liga ng mga Barangay, kaunti ang awareness na binigay sa amin (sa mga programa)—kami sa barangay, very supportive kami rito. Minanifest ko na nandito kami sa barangay, magkatulong tayo, kasama niyo kami,” Zaballa said.
[We at the Liga ng mga Barangay, there is just a little awareness given to use (in programs)—we at the barangay are very supportive. I manifested that we are here at the barangays; we are partners; you can count on us.]
Zaballa, who is also the vice president of legislative affairs at the national level, earlier raised his manifestation of partnership after the screening of the documentary film The Blue Quest Palawan, which highlighted the marine conservation projects in the province.
Screening of the documentary film The Blue Quest Palawan at Palawan State University.(Photo by Rachel Ganancial/PIA Palawan)
It was a documentary film made by French filmmakers Clément Pourtal and Jérôme Brousse through the initiative of the Marine Conservation Institute. It was centered on conservation efforts made by Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Sulubaai Foundation, and C3 Philippines. It received a conservation award at the International Ocean Film Festival in San Francisco and was later screened in Palawan.
Zaballa looks forward to other conservation efforts in the future, with the proactive involvement of barangay councils.
“Dapat paigtingin yung ugnayan natin between NGOs, CSO, and then yung barangay. Kami sa barangay, we always dedicate personnel, manpower, kung ano ang gusto nila,” he said.
[Our partnership between NGOs and CSOs should be strengthened. We at the barangay always dedicate personnel and manpower, whatever they want.]
Rey Ramilo of C3 Philippines also supported Zaballa's stand on the involvement of barangays, as it helps them penetrate the communities with their conservation projects.
“Kami ay nagpapasalamat lagi sa mga barangay council, barangay captains ng communities we work with. Hindi kami nakakapasok kung hindi muna magpresent sa barangay council—we never neglect the barangay officials,” he said.
[We are always grateful to the barangay councils, barangay captains of the communities we work with. We cannot work inside if we cannot present to the barangay council—we never neglect the barangay officials.]
Zaballa plans to also communicate the partnership to over 300 barangay captains in Palawan in the upcoming meeting in June. (RG/PIA Mimaropa - Palawan)
