BORONGAN CITY – The Miss Philippines-Earth beachwear competition aims to increase the awareness on how to protect the environment and natural resources.
Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda here said the Miss Philippines-Earth held the first-ever beachwear competition by the beach on Thursday, April 25, that aims to encourage the people, especially the youth, to participate in all the programs of this city, especially climate adaptation projects.
THE winning candidates in the Miss Earth-Philippines beachwear competition.
Recently, the city government received a $50,000 grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropist Foundation in New York City for youth climate action initiatives.
"We have the responsibility as a Borongananon to protect these natural resources, especially our trees," Agda said, citing that 60 percent of this city's land area is composed of timberland.
Although he said that Borongan is a national highway for typhoons since they usually originate from the Pacific Ocean, Agda said that this city is not directly hit because of Eastern Samar's thick forest.
Miss Philippines-Earth candidate Ira Patricia Malaluan from Batangas City lauded this city's initiative to protect its forest while promoting agriculture.
"I'm just really glad how Borongan really immersed us into tree-planting and other environmental activities, as well as the people because that's really important," she said.
Merryjoy Dayrit from Bustos, Bulacan commended Borongan's initiative to strike a balance by planting more trees despite the presence of mining activities in Eastern Samar.
"Kudos to Borongan and the local government officials in ensuring not only the betterment of the communities but also to protect the environment as well."
Sam Samara from Makati City won gold, Kristel Codas from Iligan City silver, and Irha Mel Inutan Alfeche from Matanao, Davao del Sur bagged bronze in the beachwear competition.