CAPIZ — The acting head of the Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CaPENRO) urged local government leaders of the province of Capiz to prioritize the environment.
This was emphasized by Atty. Emilyn Arboleda-Depon during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP)’s Budget Hearing for 2022 on Jan. 11, 2022. Arboleda-Depon was among department heads that defended their budget for this year and justified why there is an increase.
“We must give priority to environmental programs and advocacies. Look at the environment; do we need to take action? Yes. How are we going to take action if there is no prioritization on the budget that is why I am asking leaders for this time to prioritize the environment,” said Arboleda-Depon.
By saying prioritization, Arboleda-Depon emphasized that there is a need to provide a budget that must be sufficient to achieve ecologically sufficient and resilience province of Capiz. Capiz, known for its seafood is now struggling with its coastal resources, according to CaPENRO. It added that the coastal communities are in fair and poor conditions resulting in the depletion of coastal resources.
This affects the livelihood of fisher folks and threatens our food sustainability. With the threats of climate change, coastal areas are the most vulnerable.
To note the 2022 Annual Appropriations Budget of the province, with a proposed budget of P9.292 billion is not yet approved and is still being deliberated in the SP./PN
