Participating groups from private companies, civic organizations, barangay, and government agencies joined the clean up activity in Tagburos River on March 22, 2019.
With the theme “Water for all. Now and FoRiver,” the activity aimed to bring together the concerted efforts of various sectors and stakeholders to save rivers, creeks and bodies of water from pollution.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its line agencies Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and its provincial and community offices are joining forces to make the activity possible said Felizardo Cayatoc, community environment and natural resources officer of DENR-CENRO Puerto Princesa.
He added that this year’s celebration of World Water Day is big in scope with the bigger number of volunteers mobilized, compared to that in the past years.
“May mga effort ng mga nakaraang taon pero hindi katulad nito, na marami ang na-mobilize,” he said.
Cayatoc further said that the numerous threats faced by Tagburos River including its proximity to the mercury-contaminated pit lake and sanitary landfill, the city’s disposal facility are among the factors for chosing the river for the clean up drive.
“We have chosen Tagburos River kasi itong Taburos River natin. Although it is located within Sta. Lourdes and Tagburos ay nag face ng threat sa ating contaminated pit lake, threats sa maaring ilipad o nadadala ng hangin mula sa ating landfill; threats ng ating mga occupants o yung mga nag aalaga ng hayop na malapit sa ilog natin and sa farmland,” he explained.
Cayatoc emphasized that rivers and other bodies of water are sources of life and the water is the resources that supports life, ironically many people throw their wastes to the creeks and river that threatened our environment, our home, and our wildlife’s habitat. These are common sights in riverside communities where people discriminately throw trash directly to the rivers and creeks.
“Yung mga dumping ng mga ilang kababayan natin ay mismong sa ilog, kasi ang paniniwala nila eh yung tubig ay tapunan. Pero ating pahalagahan ito kasi alam natin there are different wildlife species, also kasama dyan yung wildlife sa ating katubigan na nabubuhay dyan at tayo mga tao. Kaya ang na come up natin o pag himok natin ay yung ‘River Cleanup for safer and healthier place for wildlife and people,” Cayatoc further said.
Currently the DENR is consolidating the data on the volume of the collected trash by each participating group assigned in the river.
On Saturday, March 23, 3019 another river clean up activity is mobilized by Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) within Irawan watershed. (With reports Sev Borda III / Palawan Daily News)