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Laguna de Bay, the largest inland body of water in the
Philippines, is a major lifeline for the communities residing in its
watershed including the metropolitan Manila. Being a multi-use
resource, the lake is an indispensable source of water for fishing,
irrigation, power supply, recreation, navigation and domestic
use. Development activities in its vast watershed continue to
exert pressure on the ecological integrity of the Lake.
A tripartite partnership
known as "CLEAR (Conservation of Laguna de Bay's Environment and
Resources)" was formally organized on
07 June 2001. Laguna Lake
Development Authority (LLDA), Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCPW), and Unilever
Philippines (ULP) signed a Memorandum of Agreement as a sign of their commitment to
the partnership which will spearhead lake conservation awareness
campaigns among key stakeholders to draw support towards a unified
effort to conserve the Lake and its resources.
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CLEAR
goals -
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The overall goal of CLEAR is to safeguard the ecological integrity of
Laguna de Bay. To achieve this, the following specific goals
have to be accomplished:
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to
establish an information and communication network that would
foster dialogue and exchange of knowledge among stakeholders
towards a more concerted effort in the conservation and
management of the lake;
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to
strengthen partnerships with local communities by involving
local government units in lake stewardship (i.e. local
ecotourism efforts); and
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to
broaden the support base of CLEAR by soliciting the support of
local industries in lake conservation efforts.
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CLEAR partners -
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The Laguna
Lake Development Authority (LLDA) is a quasi-government agency with regulatory and
proprietary functions, organized in 1966 by virtue of a Republic Act and under the
Administrative Supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. LLDA is
mandated to lead, promote and accelerate the development and balanced growth of the Laguna
de Bay basin within the context of national and regional plans and policies for social and
economic development and to carry out the development of the basin with due regard and
adequate provision for environment management control, preservation of the quality of
human life and ecological systems, and the prevention of undue ecological disturbances,
deterioration and pollution.
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The Society
for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc. (SCPW) is a non-stock, non-governmental,
non-profit organization, engaged in advocacy
work supportive of wetland conservation objectives. SCPW also serves as network of
wetland workers and advocates and establish linkages with local and international
organizations.
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Unilever
Philippines, Inc., a home and personal manufacturing company, is a
business corporation which advocates water resource conservation
efforts. Known until a few years ago as Philippine Refining
Company (PRC), Unilever Philippines started as an oil milling
business which at its peak produced nearly 100,000 tons of coconut
oil annually. Since then, the company has been a leader in
introducing new technologies into the country since the early days
of its existence - margarine production in the 1930's, non-soap
detergents, shampoos and toothpaste in the 1960's and 1970's and
state of the art sulphonation technology and cogeneration power
plant in the 1980's. Today, the company has adopted the
Total Quality approach during the last six years and was the first
in the industry to receive the ISO 9002 accreditation in 1994.
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CLEAR
Secretariat
c/o Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc.
Unit F, 9th Floor, Strata 100 Bldg., Emerald Avenue
1605 Ortigas Center, Pasig City
PHILIPPINES
Tele/Fax:
(63)(2) 637-2409
E-mail: [email protected] |
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