MUNICIPALITY OF SASMUAN

SASMUAN, PAMPANGA

POST ACTIVITY REPORT

Event: World Wetlands Day Celebration 2017

Venue: Don Lorenzo Laxamana Park Sasmuan, Pampanga

Time: 9:00AM 11:00 AM

Participants: DENR, LGU & Barangay Capt. And Kagawad of 12 Barangays

Hon. Michael Angelo Lopez Chairman on Environment
Hon. Ferdinand Velasco Chairman on CLUP
Hon. Edwin Banting Brgy. Capt. Sto. Tomas
Hon. Edwin Limin Brgy. San Nicolas 2nd
Hon. Ronaldo Pinlac Brgy. San Nicolas 2nd
Hon. Leonard Sapnu Brgy. Sta. Lucia
Hon. Bartolome Cabrera Brgy. Sta. Monica
Hon. Domingo Saldi Brgy. San Antonio
Hon. Albert Guevarra Brgy. San Pedro
Hon. Armando Limpin Brgy. Malusac
Hon. Raul Magpayo Brgy. Sebitanan
Hon. Rogelio Aguilus Brgy. Mabuanbuan
Hon. Ernesto Baltazar Brgy. Batang 1st
Hon. Christopher Turla Brgy. Batang 2nd

Today (Thursday, 2 February) is World Wetlands Day, a day when people all over the
planet celebrate two closely linked miracles: the presence of life-giving freshwater, and
of wetlands that rank among the most important natural storage systems of this water.

Internationally, World Wetlands Day has been on the environmental calendar since
1997, and this year theme Wetlands for Disaster Risk Rduction and Sasmuan has an
added reason to be part of these celebrations. One of the major wetlands in the Region
III and in the province located in the municipality, known as the Sasmuan Bangkung
Malapad.

Sasmuan joins the celebration by conducting symposium to boost awareness on the

protection and conservation of wetlands. Violaine S. Suva the new MLGOO, remind the
Brgy. Officials to their duties in Manila Bay to which every first Saturday the conduct of
cleanup in all barangay roads, canals, creeks, streams and river while Sangguniang
Bayan Member Hon. Michael Angelo Lopez emphasize the strict implementation of RA.
9003. Mr. Jayson Salenga,Tourism Officer, stated the make vital contributions of
wetlands to peoples well-being and economic growth through water provision and
activities like fishing and ecotourism. He emphasize the rich biodiversity the importance
such as coastlines protection, prevent flooding and act as natural sponges that store
water, releasing it slowly over. He added also that wetlands store carbon dioxide, thus
slowing the impact of climate change. Through all of benefits mention and despite that
wetlands provide these vital ecological goods and services, wetlands are still often
abused. Mr. Salenga, enumerates the human interventions that threatened the
wetlands, and these are Pagatpat trimming, Bunbuns Installation, Illegal fishing
practices, pollution, small scale quarrying, improper waste disposal (hanging crs) and
backyard piggery. Since then turn of the 20th century, some wetlands have been
destroyed, and Sasmuan has already lost over half its wetlands.

Meanwhile, water stress in our country is fast reaching a critical point. Its estimated that
the rising demand for water will exceed supply by 2025 if current usage trends continue.
So wetland conservation has a vital role to play in securing our countrys freshwater
sources for the future, in turn promoting economic and social development. In our case
Sasmuan is surrounded by bodies of water, which is the main source of livelihood of
80% of the population. Pasak river is the main source of water of all fishponds in the
area, today, the same stress felt by our town, that the river is also reaching the critical
point because of different human activities and heavy siltation.

What is happened in Sasmuan is particularly relevant to the 2017 World Wetlands Day
theme: Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction, these is how wetlands are tied to the
future of humanity. Futher, Salenga, sited the not ordinary calamities/disaster felt in
Sasmuan. Tornado in May 10, 2009 at Sto. Tomas, Tornado in May 31, 2014 at Brgy.
Malusac and Sebitanan, Tornado August 15, 2014 at Batang 2 nd Sasmuan, Pampanga.
The storm surge in Brgy. Mabuanbuan during Typhoon Glenda, wherein half of the
barangay have been devastated. These are few of the natural disasters can be the
revenge of our mother nature for our unending exploitation to our environment.

Ms. Jenny Raissa Lico of DENR-Region III (OIC-chief PAMBCS, Protected Area
Management Biodiversity Conservation Section), discuss what World Wetlands Day all
about, then she presented the importance of the wetlands and the laws protecting the
wetlands.

After the two presentation, Mr. Josh Earl Reyes of DENR-PENRO Pampanga conduct a
Question and Answer, to hear the sentiments, comments and suggestions of each
barangay. Some of the question asked is that, If Bunbuns will remove then what
assistance can be provides to our poor fisher folks? What are the LGU initiatives in
addressing heavy siltation which a major problem of the river? Engr.Rommel M.
Santiag, the Chief, Technical Service Division of Penro Pampanga and Mr. Salenga
trying to satisfy our participants to their answer.

Over all, the symposium was able to highlight the link between the integrity of wetlands
and its ability to provide protection to humanity . It also promoted awareness on
wetlands conservation, particularly in Sasmuan Bangkung Malapad, and recommended
that further discussion on the issues raised be pursued in future to provide a venue for
stakeholders to express their concerns on pressing issues confronting important
wetlands in the municipality.

We are fortunate that we have you , Thank you! DENR-PENRO PAMPANGA our
partners in sharing our excitement and passion for environmental education. Our
constituents need to learn about conserving our nature for a better and safe future of
SASMUAN.