Antique's Bugang River wins int'l award
Already considered the country's cleanest inland body of water, Bugang River once again coveted an award from the prestigious Green Environment Apple Awards in the United Kingdom this year.
The Bugang River Tour Project of Pandan, Antique received one of the 6 awards bagged by the Philippines, out of the total 13 awards given. Other winners included the Save the Mangrove Association of Kalibo, Aklan, adjudged the Green Champion of the Year; the Ecosystems and Research Development Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which took the Gold Award; the local government of Negros Occidental and the Leyte Agricultural Corp.; and Pilipinas Shell.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the awards are considered among the highest honors in environmental advocacy and organized by the Green Organization, an independent, non-political and non-profit ecology group based in the UK. This year's ceremonies were held at the House of Commons, the lower House of the British Parliament in London, last November 20.
Perez expressed her pride for the achievement. She also lauded the local government and the people of Pandan, headed by Mayor Plaridel Sanchez VI, for their efforts in maintaining the cleanliness and the pristine beauty of Bugang. She further cited Bugang as truly a nature's gift to the Antiqueños, having already won a total of 3 awards, including the recent "Hiyas ng Turismo" Award by the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapiligiran.
(PIO-Antique)