Cebu Province Supports World Water Day

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of the Cebu Provincial Government celebrated World Water Day through a clean-up drive in Mananga River, Talisay City last March 22.

“Adopting” the Mananga River in Talisay City was the response of the Cebu Provincial Government to the invitation from the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the event.

DENR invited its partners to adopt a river, creek or coast or any chosen water body that needs immediate surface clean up.

This activity is in line with the celebration of the Philippine Water Days that falls on March 16-27 and the World Water Day on Mar. 22.

Integrated initiatives by DENR are geared towards a systematic change and for people to recognize their need of clean water.

Atty. Chad Estella, head of PENRO, led the clean-up drive and requested 10 to 20 representatives from each department from the Capitol. There were also some volunteer cleaners from the local government of Talisay.

The situation of the river was worst than what was expected. The holes in the riverbed are proof of illegal quarry. It was dry with foul smell caused by garbage thrown in the river.

The collection of garbage in the area is not regular, which is why the residents are tempted to just throw their garbage in the river.

Ruben Kalimpas, 62, was one of the cleaners in the area before, a job order employee at the Talisay City Government a couple of years ago. Kalimpas shared that the residents’ source of living is rag-making.

“Ang walay pakabana, kana ilang retaso dritso na nila ug labay dinhi sa sapa. Labi na nga di pa gyud regular ang pagkuha sa among basura dinhi (Those who are not conscious of the effects of garbage to the environment just throw unused cloth to the river. This piles up, especially when the schedule of garbage collection is irregular),” Kalimpas said.

Estella said that they are planning to tap the PENRO-Solid Waste Management and the City of Talisay regarding the current situation of the river. (Cris Lanie Delos Reyes and Timmi-Lou (PENRO-Correspondent))

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