The Department of Environment and Natural Resources led by Secretary Lito Atienza attended the culminating activity of Earth Day People’s Caravan “ Lakbay Para sa Kalikasan! Lakbay Para Sa Buhay at Kaligtasan” for Luzon Cluster on April 4 at the SM Plaza City in San Fernando, Pampanga.

The activity gathered eight DENR Regional Offices including their bureaus (Region 1,2,3,4A,5,8, CAR and NCR) and some local government and stakeholders at the SM Entertainment Plaza . Prominent political and religious, business and civil group personalities such as Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and Archbishop Paciano Anicieto ,Odette Alcantara and Annie Garcia of SM Shooping Mall. were invited to join the celebration highlighted by musical presentations of different participating regions.

In his speech, Sec. Atienza said that Earth Day theme “ Tubig Ay Buhay, Ating Pagyamanin at Linisin” focused on water and reminded the public on the need to conserve, manage and rehabilitate the water system in order to ensure the country’s future water supply.

The Earth Day Caravan which was divided into 3 clusters ( Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) is an information , education and communication (IEC) campaign lasted for 25 days passed through different provinces and municipalities . It aimed in bringing to the public the different environmental programs and services of DENR

Region 3 started its Earth Day Caravan with a Tree Planting in Dingalan,Aurora last March 25. The week long activities included clean up of Dupingan River in Nueva Ecija, vist at SM Water Treatment Plant in Marilao and United Paper and Puld Corporation in Calumpit, Bulacan; dialogue and MOA signing in Integrated Coastal Resource Management PProgram in Zambales and coastal clean upo in Subic an Bataan.

The Earth Day culminatde with a “Water Healing Art Ritual” for the Marilao-Meycauyan-Obando River on April 30 in Brgy. Prenza in Bulacan. This activity was conducted by DENR in coordination with Mother Earth Network Philippines and Sayaw ni Bathala of UP Manila.