President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday used his speech in an event in Rizal province to joke about his love life, saying he intends to get married before he steps down from office in 2016.
“Manalig po kayo: Hangga’t pagkakapwa-tao at hindi panlalamang ang isinasapuso natin, pagbaba ko po sa puwesto sa 2016, sana po’y nakapag-asawa na, babangon naman kayo sa isang Pilipinas na mas maunlad, mas marangal at mas maipagmamalaki sa buong mundo," he said in a speech in Jala-Jala town.
Aquino was in Jala-Jala for the government’s Lake Seeding project where he led the seeding of 200,000 tilapia and big head carp fingerlings off Laguna de Bay.
Aquino had earlier asked the media and the public to give him privacy when it comes to his love life. He made the appeal after he was seen with a date during the reunion concert of 70’s band Hotdog at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City last May 16.
The 51-year-old bachelor President previously dated stockbroker Len Lopez and stylist Liz Uy. It was also reported that he texted a reporter he met in Singapore during his state visit there earlier this year.
Valenzuela City Councillor Shalani Soledad and Aquino were together for two years before their breakup last year.
Love for environment
In his speech, Aquino said pollution, illegal fishing, and overpopulation had tremendously affected the shorelines of Laguna Lake. He said because of these, fishermen can no longer bring home enough fish for their families.
“Malinaw ang daing sa atin ng Laguna Lake. Ang tagal natin siyang pinakinabangan at obligasyon nating suklian ang kanyang pag-aaruga. Pagmalasakitan natin siya upang patuloy pa rin tayong buhusan ng samu’t-saring yaman at pagkakakitaan," he said.
The chief executive said he spearheaded the lake seeding project because he believes it is the citizenry’s obligation to protect and enrich the lake.
“Walang ibang mag-aaruga at kakalinga dito kundi tayo rin. Ang humigit-kumulang 200,000 fingerlings ng tilapia at big head carp na pinapakawalan natin ngayon ay maghahatid ng mas masaganang palaisdaan at dagdag na kabuhayan para sa ating mga kakabayan," he said.
Fish sanctuaries
The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), in a bid to boost the fish population, has designated fish sanctuaries so that fishes can grow undisturbed.
The LLDA also crafted the 2020 Laguna de Bay Basin Master Plan Framework that will bring the sanctuaries closer to the community of its intended beneficiaries. Direct involvement of communities in lake management, regulation and protection is also part of the plan.
The lake seeding was undertaken in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Fish seeding or fingerlings dispersal system in communal waters, is a regular activity of BFAR under the fingerlings dispersal program.
From the first quarter of 2011, a total of 240,000 tilapia fingerlings had already been dispersed. The government targets to release two million fingerlings for the whole year.
An additional 5.9 million tilapia fingerlings were dispersed from January to May 2011 to 1,444 fish cage operators affected by typhoon Ondoy in collaboration with foreign organizations and the agriculture department. — KBK,
