Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—The unabated burning of cogon grass along the Padsan River in this city has reached the attention of local authorities here after residents from neighboring San Nicolas town sought their help.
In a resolution addressed to Ilocos Norte governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos through the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), members of the Sangguniang Bayan of San Nicolas led by San Nicolas vice mayor Marlon Valdez requested the higher officials to take appropriate action on this.
During the month-long celebration of Laoag’s Pamulinawen Festival every February, there are carnival occupants and vendors under the Gilbert bridge. It is also during this season that residents report massive cogon grass burning along the Padsan River, just a few meters from the bridge.
As this developed, SP member Mariano “Nonong” Marcos II, chairperson of the committee on environment proposed that they conduct a joint committee hearing along with the committee on laws and the city government officials of Laoag to resolve the burning of cogon grass at the Padsan river.
At press time, the SP have yet to announce the date of the hearing.
According to Provincial Councilor’s League president Domingo Ambrocio who is also an incumbent Sangguniang Bayan member of San Nicolas, the burning of cogon grass at the Padsan River has been a long-time problem hence, the need to come up with a measure to put an end.