Bantay Ilog campaign boosted

APALIT-- The local government unit of Apalit recently got a boost on its Bantay Ilog campaign following the acquisition of two pump boats for the project.

Fourth District Board Member Nestor Tolentino, who chairs the Provincial Board's Committee on Environment, told Sun.Star Pampanga that the two motorized boats will be used in patrolling the Apalit portion of the Pampanga River.

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The river is being used as a dumpsite by residents and unscrupulous sectors in disposing their garbage and wastes.

"Those two boats for the Bantay Ilog of Apalit will monitor garbage disposal and will be used for clean-up as well," Tolentino said.

Tolentino revealed that the Committee on Environment has been working continuously to protect the important river channel following reports that it has become a "favorite" dumping site.

He said that Capitol has been exerting all-out efforts to solve the problem on solid waste. Recently, Governor Lilia Pineda and Tolentino inspected an area in Floridablanca where an open dump site would soon rise.

"But locally, we are starting with Apalit on its Bantay Ilog project. We want to make the town a model in environmental protection and safeguarding our waterways," he said. (Jovi T. De Leon)