The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Albay headed by OIC, PENR Officer Jerry R. Arena together with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Manito, Albay headed by Mayor Joshua Mari C. Daep celebrated the World Wetlands Day (WWD) with the theme, “Wetlands and Water - Inseparable and Vital to Life” in Manito, Albay on February 2, 2021.

OIC, PENR Officer Arena in his message, expressed his gratitude to the participants. “We, at the DENR, are very grateful to the partner stakeholders as well as the Local Government Units who continuously help the DENR in carrying out its mandates.”

The cleanup along the estuary of Kamanituhan River was participated in by some residents of Barangays It-ba and Cawit, Manito. Distribution of information, education and communication (IEC) materials was conducted following the cleanup.

Moreover, a focus group discussion (FGD) was also conducted wherein PENRO Albay Conservation and Development Section Chief Gemma L. Ampongan emphasized the importance of wetlands and its important roles in sustaining humanity and nature.

The WWD marks the date of the Adoption of the Convention on Wetland in Ramsar City in Iran on February 2, 1971. The Philippine government adopted its local celebration in 1995 under Presidential Decree No. 74, “Declaring February 2 of every year as National Wetlands Day”.