TACLOBAN CITY - Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan wants to remove the mining and logging icons from the Official Seal of the province.
The official proposes that the image of the Philippine Eagle, which represents power and strength, replace them in the new provincial seal instead.
He said that it was in Paranas town where the bird was first discovered in the Philippines by an English explorer, John Whitehead in 1896.
He maintains that the current seal is no longer reflective of the ideals and thrusts of the present time.
“We will remove logging and mining in our seal. While they were among the major industries in Samar before, it’s no longer the case today,” he said.
Tan also voiced his opposition to mining in the province. “We are against mining because it is not part of our Samar Spark tourism agenda. In fact, there’s an ordinance prohibiting the operation of mining in Samar,” he said.
He added that as governor, he has to protect the interest of residents of the province and the future generations. However, he is willing to listen to proposals if they will be for the good of the province.
He invited all Samarnons to help in conceptualizing and designing the new seal. The winning designer will receive P50,000 and his/her work will have the chance to be immortalized in Samar's history.