Citizens Speak: PREVENT JANITOR FISH, SAVE Lake Mainit

Open letter to the Officials and Leaders of the Municipalities surrounding Lake Mainit

The Mayors, Vice Mayors and Sanguniang Bayan Members of the Municipalities of Mainit, Alegria, Kitcharao, Santiago, Tubay, and Jabonga:

Dear Sirs and Madams,

We, the citizens of Lake Mainit, have seen the devastating effect of the Janitor Fish to the Rivers of Marikina and Agusan Marsh, thanks to the excellent documentation of GMA7's i-Witness.

We can still prevent this from happening to our beloved Lake Mainit, if we act together as one true community, as soon as possible.

We therefore appeal to your leadership to act on this potential devastation and mobilize resources and communities to create a comprehensive community response.

The online community of Mainitnons and Surigaonons, through the Pidjanga Blog (www.pidjanga.blogspot.com), has identified the following possible solutions for your consideration:

1. Comprehensive Multi-Municipality Information and Education Campaign - Through the help of the Lake Mainit Development Authority (LMDA), the municipalities of Mainit, Alegria, Kitcharao, Santiago, Tubay, and Jabonga will have a comprehensive community information and education campaign to raise awareness about the reality of the Janitor Fish, how it can potentially destruct the ecosytem of Lake Maint, and how the communities can prevent this.

2. Creation of Municipal Ordinances - to support the above Information and Education Campaign, and identify sanctions to those who will be caught putting janitor fish in the lake or in the rivers surrounding the lake.

3. Organization of Community Citizens Watch Groups - to conduct regular surveillance activities around the lake and its tributaries.

4. Joint Surigao and Agusan Provincial Surveillance - to conduct province-wide inspections of Pet Fish Stores and disallow the sale of Janitor Fish.

We trust in you.

Citizens of Lake Mainit

Pidjanga note: If you happen to be a current resident of any of the above towns, please feel free to print this and give to your local government officials. Thanks.

Post: Zimm (www.pidjanga.blogspot.com)
Crossposting: http://www.bisayabloggers.com/; http://zimmbodilion.multiply.com/journal