Rehabilitation of Maculcul River promotes ecotourism in Zambales

By: Throy Catan

LAST Thursday, December 13, the president of the Association of Zambales Quarry Operator, Milinia “Min” Nuesca, formally launched the Maculcul River Rehabilitation and Beautification Project in Zambales.

Media were gathered to witness this monumental event to further promote ecotourism in Zambales. The main goal is to dredge out the sands and debris from lahar from the Maculcul River, and to bring back its normal condition.

Min Nuesca believed that rehabilitating Maculcul River benefits the people of Zambales, “Kapag nalinisan po ang ilog, meron po kaming ecotourism na tina-tie up po namin ito kay Ma’am Gina Lopez. Si Ma’am Gina Lopez ho talaga alam naman natin na environmentalist iyan.

“Ang plano ho namin talaga after [dredging], sabayan po na merong ecotourism ang ginagawa, dahil napakalaki ho ang potensyal ng Zambales. Tama lang na gagawin, tama lang ang mga tao, at may tamang permit naman po na-issue po sa amin…

“At the end of the day, kapag natanggal po ang buhangin babalik po sa ilog iyung kanyang normal na meron po siyang isda. So, ito po ay isa ring magandang access going to Mt. Pinatubo. Marami po. Napakarami pong plano.” said Min Nuesca.

According to Min, it will take a year to see the result of this project, but she makes sure that it will be a huge success. “After one year pa lang ay meron na pong makikitang [resulta].” She said.

Min also believes that it will increase the number of jobs for Zamboangeños with the help of NGOs, “As of the moment, ang nasasabi ko lang pong trabaho kung mga 200 na tao mabibigyan po namin ng trabaho. Not immediately alam niyo naman iyun nage-evolve ang trabaho kasi alam namin maraming NGOs na gusto ring tumulong sa mga ganitong project. We will invite NGOs to come with us kasi talagang dapat talaga nating alagahan ang environment. Hindi nating sirain. Kung sasabihin ang nagmimina sumisira pero kami ho hindi. Ire-rehab po namin ang nasira.” She declares.