Laguna Vision 2020 It is said `forget the past and forge forward to the goal.

That should be the attitude of every Lagunense. The province will be faced or confronted by a number of key issues which could be summed up under four (4) major areas; the environment, Disasterpreparedness, Peace and order, and Justice. In the next eight years, the occurrence of environment-related calamities will become more and more frequent and pronounced. Ondoy, Iligan-CDO Sendong (700 dead) will become a regular occurrence. That is why the Provincial Governor E.R. Ejercito should take steps and take the preventive measures just like a genuine, caring, and effective father (if not an Asiong) of the Province. Unlike the Local Executives of iligan and Cagayan De Oro, he should not allow himself to be in a position to merely cure a tragedy that is ready to happen but work to prevent or mitigate its effects. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-IV-A has already enumerated the Disaster-prone areas through Geohazard Map issued by the Decision Systems Office Office of the Regional Executive Director- (ORED). Regional Executive Director (RED) of DENR-IV-A Reynulfo A. Juan has already issued a warning of highly susceptible areas for landslides on geohazard maps. The following areas in Laguna areas susceptible according to the DENR: Calamba City Los Baos Alaminos Rizal Nagcarlan Majayjay Famy Mabitac Sta. Maria Siniloan Kalayaan Cavinti Paete

The excuses offered in the sending tragedy were: the absence of a flood warning, high tide, a false sense of security and the complacency of the people because Northern Mindanao is rarely visited by storms, the hesitancy of the people to leave their homes for fear that they would be robbed, deforestation due to illegal logging and mining, rapid urbanization and heavy siltation of river and other waterways.

Q&A for Mayor Arcillas 1. What is the secret to the progress of Sta. Rosas development? 2. Industrial Revolution. You have heard of Sustainable development, in what concrete ways and means does Sta. Rosa as the Detroit of the Philippines plan to balance urban growth and preserve its rural charm and leave natural resources to future Generations? 3. Please discuss for us the Environment Code of Santa Rosa? As a contribution to the body of Legislative measures in the province of Laguna. What are its salient features? On solid waste management? Do you see this law will address the welfare, the security of residents of Sta. Rosa in the next 20 years?