MARANTAO, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The youth sector in the province of Lanao del Sur continues to advocate for environmental protection of their locality, most especially for Lake Lanao.

“We should engage ourselves in preserving the culture of Meranaw and part of preserving the culture is preserving Lake Lanao because it is our identity. The Lake Lanao is the symbol that we are Meranaw and we are one Marantao,” said youth sector representative Amenoding Bongcarawan Tomindug.

Johanifah Maute, team leader of the Hijab for a Cause, affirmed Tomidug’s stand as she stated that Lake Lanao must be rightly protected as it is one of the significant natural resources of the province. 

She also highlighted that the youth has the power to carry on the mission to preserve the environment with their strategic skills and their voice that can uplift their fellow youths.

The Hijab for a Cause hoped that environmental activities may be extended as far as it can reach and that more youths will partake in the same mission that they have.

“Sana mas maging mas malawak pa ito. Sana mas magkaroon pa ng maraming youth which is focus sa ganitong program kasi ito iyong pinakabig problem na kailangan nating solusyunan,” said Maute.

[I hope that this will widen. I hope there will be more youths who will be focused on this kind of program because this is the big problem that we need to solve.]

With the recently conducted Siyap Ko Ranaw (Care for Lake Lanao) clean-up drive in lakeshore areas through the Office of MP Maisara Dandamun-Latiph, the youth sector expressed their appreciation for involving them in the initiative.

“It is a big opportunity to be part of this program kasi matagal na naming plano na magkaroon ng ganito, na masolusyunan ang waste disposal [concern]... Sobrang napakagandang program ito kasi pinapakita nito kung paano dapat pahalagahan ang kapaligaran,” said Maute.

[It is a big opportunity to be part of this program because we have already planned for a long time to have something like this, to give solution to waste disposal [concern]... This program is very wonderful because this shows how to take care of the environment.] (CRG/PIA-10/ICIC Lanao del Sur)