City leads international coastal clean-up in Western Visayas

THE Iloilo City Government will spearhead the celebration of the United Nations’ recognized International Coastal Clean-Up Day on September 22.

More than 10,000 volunteers and coordinators will be mobilized in a massive clean-up of designated areas covering the coastal areas of the city, creeks and tributaries, esteros and the Iloilo River Esplanade.

Councilor David Jamora, chairman of the City Council committee on the environment, will marshal the participation of all volunteers and coordinators composed of employees of National Government agencies, City Government, public and private schools, private individuals and institutions in cleaning up the environment.

Jamora said the City Government had adopted the international clean-up program, and in 2011, they were able to collect more than 23 metric tons of garbage in the coastal areas.

This year, they are targeting to double the garbage collection within two to three hours in the morning of September 22 by covering more than 21.71 coastal kilometers in 22 coastal city barangays from Sto Niño in Arevalo up to Barangay Bitoon in Jaro district.

Clean-up volunteers will also be posted along the creeks and river tributaries, including the esteros, as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources enhances its program through the “Adopt-the-Estero” movement with barangay officials and volunteers doing the clean-up.

Jamora said the clean-up is a sustainable program of the city celebrated annually every third week of September.

Other activities include a photo contest, collection of recyclables, and on-the-spot essay writing contest. (LCP/Sunnex)