LINGAYEN, Pangasinan - All is set for the first round evaluation of participants in the Search for the Cleanest Coastal Municipality (Linis Dayat program) slated from October 23 to November this year.

Now on its seventh year, the program was further intensified through the  years with the revision of its criteria.

A brainchild of Gov. Victor E. Agbayani that has earned international citation, the Linis Dayat program was launched in 2001 to save the Lingayen Gulf from further degradation brought about by illegal fishing activities, pollution, destruction of mangroves and siltation.

The governor is urging all coastal LGUs to continue linking arms with the provincial government in its effort to promote marine and coastal conservation and protection to achieve sustainable develoment in Pangasinan.

With the exemption of Bani town, which has been the sole Hall of Fame awardee, 11 coastal towns andone city in the province will again vie for the prestigious title. These are Bolinao, Anda, Agno, Dasol, Infanta, Burgos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, San Fabian and Alaminos City.

The Provincial Search Committee and Evaluation Team will inspect all coastal barangays of each town according to various criteria such as water quality or physical condition, support systems, and people’s participation or empowerment of each LGU.

Coastal towns were clustered into three groups: Cluster ! - CRM Pioneering cluster, Cluster II - CRM Expansion and Cluster III - CRM Developing Cluster.

Winners last year were the coastal towns of Anda for Cluster I, Burgos for Cluster II and Labrador for Cluster III.

Second round of evaluation will be on March next year and awarding ceremony will serve as one of the highlights of the Pistay Dayat celebration formal opening. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)