In a unified effort to safeguard and sustainability manage the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in partnership with various national government agencies, provincial and local government units (LGUs), academic institutions, and civil society organizations, launched the Provincial Caravan for the WPS in Zambales on October 22, 2024. The event was held at the SMX Convention Center in Olongapo City, Zambales.
Titled “Bayanihan Adhikain, Bayanihang Aksiyon para sa Kaunlarang Dagat ng Pilipinas,”the initiative builds on the memorandum of the first-ever National Summit for the West Philippine Sea, held in August 2023. The summit, which gathered 500 participants from provincial, city and municipal LGUs, as well as national agencies, academia, and environmental organizations, resulted in the creation of comprehensive national and provincial action plans aimed at protecting the WPS, ensuring food security, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. was the guest of honor at the gathering. where he gave a report on the preparations being made by the province for the fishermen of the province.
In his speech, the governor said that they intend to present the plan of the province in relation to the problems faced by the fishing sectors here.
Among his announced program is the formation of a cooperative for more than 27,000 fishermen as well as the establishment of the Zambales Maritime Council that will serve as a guide for the cooperatives to be built.
The Zambales Provincial Caravan marks the fifth provincial caravan, following previous ones held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan (May 02, 2024), Batac, Ilocos Norte (August 19, 2024), Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (August 28, 2024) and La Union (September 18, 2024). These caravans were designed to disseminate the WPS action plans further and encourage their integration inti local development plans and strategies.
The program commenced with a situationer and video presentation highlighting the value of WPS, followed by detailed discussions on the national and provincial action plans. As the lead convenor, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) emphasized the importance of collective action in protecting the region and its sustainable management. The event concluded with the signing in the commitment wall and the official launch of the “Bayanihan Adhikain, Bayanihang Aksiyon para sa Kaunlarang Dagat mg Pilipinas (Gawad Bayanihang Aksiyon)” initiative.
This initiative is supported by Tanggol Kalikasan’s project, “Restoring the Resources for Economic Sustainability of the West Philippine Sea (RESTORE-WPS),” under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)program, facilitated by the Gerry Roxas Foundation.