Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano marked World Lake Day by highlighting the remarkable progress Laguna Lake in the City of Taguig has seen in recent years and its vast untapped potential.
“Nung congressman pa ako ng 1998, naging passion ko na po kung paano pagandahin ang Laguna Lake. Nagkaroon lang po syempre ako ng opportunity sa side ng Taguig dahil nga ito ang aking home city… Napakarami po kasing gamit ng lake,” Cayetano said in two August 27 live streams along Taguig Lakeshore.
The veteran legislator reminded everyone that every person, whether tending a fish pond, a river, or a lake, has an obligation to be a good steward of God’s creation.
“Lahat ng tao kahit na wala sa gobyerno, meron po tayong obligasyon maging good stewards.”
“Ang pagiging sa gobyerno, ang pagiging public servant — hindi po kami ang may-ari ng resources… Kami po ay stewards, tagapamahala lang. Lahat ng tao kahit na wala sa gobyerno, meron po tayong obligasyon maging good stewards,” the seasoned lawmaker said.
The senator related the City of Taguig’s lakeshore projects as concrete acts of stewardship, designed to protect the lake from erosion, pollution, and illegal settlements while ensuring public access for all.
“Part of its protection is not only na huwag mag-erode, (but para) hindi bahayan ng informal centers kasi kung mabahayan yung dumi, dito mapupunta sa lawa.”
“Nung ginawa ‘yung C6 or road dike, basically, pinoprotect po ‘yung lakeshore. And part of its protection is not only na huwag mag-erode, (but para) hindi bahayan ng informal centers kasi kung mabahayan yung dumi, dito mapupunta sa lawa. The other thing is to make it for public use,” he explained.
Cayetano countered allegations of land-grabbing by pointing out that the local government actually reserved the area for public use, reversing the historical pattern of private encroachment along the lakeshore.
“May allegations na may kinakamkam kami. Hindi ko lang alam kung pag sinabing kami, kung kaming mga Cayetano, kung ako, o kami ng ibang leaders… Doon sa bandang gitna, marami na pong private (land) kasi may 1,100 hectares ng lupa na nasa labas ng road dike. Meron po doon na private property, merong gobyerno,” he said.
“Pero ito lahat po, precisely ni-reserve at ginawan ng paraan ng local government na maging public para hindi kamkamin. So baliktad sa allegation na kinakamkam. Titingnan niyo po ‘yung history. Maraming kumakamkam po ng lupa dito. Pero ang history po ng Cayetano ay tumutulong na maging good stewards para sa gobyerno,” Cayetano emphasized.
He also called on the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to take stewardship more seriously by leading World Lake Day celebrations, emphasizing that caring for the lake begins with respect for it as a divine gift.
“Baka naman dapat ang LLDA at iba pang mga namamahala sa lawa ay nagse-celebrate kasi parang second year na ito na Taguig pa ang nagse-celebrate ng World Lake Day. Baka nakaligtaan lang … But syempre, kung ikaw ay mismo ang trabaho mo ay sa lake, dapat naman siguro, diba?” Cayetano said.
“That’s why Taguig as a city, kami as legislators, mga konsehal, mga kapitan namin na may kinalaman sa lake, we’re all trying to do our part na maging mas productive po ang lake. But magsisimula po iyan sa pangangalaga, sa pamamahala. Meaning, dapat walang hindi polluted at dapat nirerespeto na ito ay gift at gawa ng Panginoon,” he concluded.
