Dr. Norman Tanchuan, Provincial Health Officer said that because vehicular accidents is one among the top ten leading causes of death and injuries in the province, there’s a need to strictly enforce laws for use of protective gears when driving to save lives.

House Bill 4751 proposed by Rep Narciso D.Santiago III pushed for mandatory use of helmets when riding bicycles, non-motorized scooters, roller skates and skateboards. Santiago said, riding anything with wheels is very dangerous and most of the times, people are exposed to various injuries, especially head traumas.

The bill provides that a person who intends to ride bikes, non-motorized scooters, roller skates and skateboards must wear helmets properly set by an appropriate agency or by any applicable international standards.

The bill when enacted into law will apply at all times when the bicycles, non-motorized scooters, roller skates and skateboards are operated on any street, roads, parks or other property open to the public or used by the public for pedestrian or vehicular traffic as well as places of recreation.

Tanchuan strongly supports the bill because from saving precious lives it can trim down admission in hospitals caused by accidents/injuries due to non-wearing of helmets. Police/traffic officers are also enjoined to strictly enforce laws on violation of motorists for proper use of protective gears.

Research conducted by the Protected Areas & Wildlife Coastal Zone Management Services of the DENR in connection with the Asian Water Bird Census for 2008 revealed that more than 400 migratory birds visited the province during the bird counting activity conducted last month.

Cattle Egret commonly called as Tulabong has the highest population with 243 heads with 108 Little and Intermediate Egret. There are 46 Black Winged Stilt, 2 Common Sand Piper, 3 Kenfish Plower and 1 Green Back Heron sighted in different areas in the province.

Most of the areas visited are swamp/fishpond areas in Lapaz, Hamtic, ricefields in Supa, San Jose, Cubay Napultan, Sibalom and Ilaures Bugasong and mangrove areas in Lipata, Culasi and Sebaste. DENR is also monitoring the endangered species such as Philippine Ducks which now cannot be found/sighted in the province anytime of the year.

Migratory birds come to the province for various reasons because of the tropical climate conducive for molting, feeding, and breeding, said Temana.

In line with the celebration of World Wetlands Day this February, the DENR is advocating for the preservation of wetlands like swamps, ricefields, mangrove forest, marshlands, rivers, lakes, aquaculture ponds among others not just for migratory birds but also for maintenance of the environmental health of the country and survival of mankind.

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rainforest and coral reefs. They have been called “cradles of biodiversity” supporting a rich variety of species. Many birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates are found in wetlands, as are numerous plants, including rice-the staple food plant of about half the world’s population.