APALIT - Four candidates for the Provincial Board representing 4th district of the province had unanimously agreed on the urgency of the need to rehabilitate Pampanga River.

Despite differences on various political views, incumbent Board Member Nestor Tolentino, former Board Member Nelson Calara, Councilor Kenneth Nunag and Cecile Villegas stand in common ground when ask about their agenda on Pampanga River.

Tolentino said he used to be the supervising engineer of the defunct Pampanga River Control System (PRCS) which is tasked to monitor, preserve, maintain, and develop the said river.

However, he added that with the abolishment of PRCS long before, the river has been abused by the people in the communities along its stretch.

"Ang kailangan po talaga ay i-revive natin ang Pampanga River Control System upang mabantayan po nating mabuti ang ating kailugan," he stated.

Tolentino also explained that currently there is enough legislation both in national and local level involving protection and conservation of major waterways.

"What we are lacking is the strict implementation of the laws," he noted.

Calara, for his part,  claimed the condition of the river is hurting the livelihood of the people.

"Diyan sa bandang Masantol at Macabebe may mga kuto na gumain ng maliliit na lamang isda at ibang pang pinagkakakitaan ng ating mga mangingisda. Kailangan natin bigyan ng solusyon ito," he said.

Nunag, on the other hand, explained that solving the problem of Pampanga River is not the sole obligation of the concerned local government unit.

He said the people likewise are obligated to protect the river.

"Ang kailangan natin ay magtulungan upang mai-save natin ang ilog," Nunag lamented.

Villegas stressed that the people living near the river need proper education on environmental protection so that they help solve the problem on pollution, garbage, illegal fishing among others.