Mayor Lucilo Bayron said Monday that the city government will deal with the “saving and protection” of Puerto Princesa Bay with the help of a private consulting firm right after the 2019 midterm elections.
Bayron shortly mentioned this in his speech during the regular flag raising ceremony at the City Hall.
“[Nandito] ‘yong dati na nating bisita dito, si Glen De Castro. Siya ‘yong nagtuturo sa atin para ma-save ‘yong Puerto Princesa Bay. After ng election, Glen, mayroon tayong mga moves diyan para ma-save natin ‘yong Puerto Princesa Bay,” said Bayron.
Glen De Castro, development consultant of Eco Kairos Consulting and Management Services Corporation (EKCMSC), said in an interview with the media that they are here in Puerto Princesa to offer potential ways to help.
He said, however, that they are still in the process of exploring everything.
“Actually, more on exploration lang kung ano ‘yong puwedeng gawin kasi gusto naming maka-contribute sa development ng Puerto Princesa, especially ngayon. [We chose Palawan] kasi matagal na akong involved dito since [year] 2000 pa, pabalik-balik na ako. So from time ni Mayor Hagedorn, time ni Mayor Bayron tumutulong lang kami kung saan puwedeng tumulong,” said De Castro.
Based on available information online regarding the consulting firm, the EKCMSC office is situated along Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, Metro Manila.
De Castro noted their firm is focused on poverty reduction, sustainable development, and conceptualization of necessary measures to take in ensuring that the surge of economic growth will still coincide with management sustainability.
De Castro said he already worked with and became part of 12 forestry projects across Palawan under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the past.
“Kasi dati I worked with United Nations Development Program (UNDP), meron kaming project dito. Meron kaming 12 projects across Palawan on forestry, ‘yon ‘yong aking entry point before. Tapos iba-iba ng initiative, iba-ibang organization, pero ganoon pa rin [we were] having projects in Puerto Princesa and the whole of Palawan, na ang basic intent is to help ‘yong mga farming communities, indigenous communities,” he said.
De Castro said they are also looking forward to helping the indigenous communities be given better livelihood opportunities.
De Castro reiterated their firm is heavily concentrating on the conceptualization of steps to be taken and implemented by the city government.
“Pero more sa indigenous communities ‘yong focus. So right now nandito lang kami to explore kung ano ‘yong puwede pang gawin, saan puwedeng makatulong, so ganun lang ka-simple ‘yon. Sa pag-contribute sa poverty reduction we want to work with the indigenous communities. We will help them uplift ‘yong kanilang buhay so maghahanap [kami] ng mga potential livelihood opportunities for them,” he said.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_pBt0Xqur8&feature=youtu.be
