THE Iloilo City Agriculturist’s Office has appealed to the public not to throw trash into Iloilo River and at mangroves along the banks of waterway.

City Agriculturist Romulo Pangantihon said personnel under the Iloilo River Development Project have collected domestic wastes along riverbanks.

The wastes collected included household garbage such as plastic bags, coffee cups, junk food wrappers, and diapers.

“Please refrain from throwing wastes in mangrove areas because this is not good to environment. Mangroves, especially those located at Esplanade, which is considered as one of our tourist destinations, give us the impression that we care for our river,” Pangantihon said.

He noted they received private messages through their office’s Facebook page regarding garbage seen at Esplanade.

He said they have two teams assigned at the upper stream of Iloilo River, which is at Diversion Bridge and lower stream near the ferry terminal that regularly check and collect scattered garbage.

“Booms were put up near the Jalandoni Bridge and Esplanade 3 which also accumulate garbage,” Pangantihon said. (PR)