THE Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Menre-Barmm) entered into an agreement Saturday, July 24, with the municipality of Parang, Maguindanao to protect and preserve the Nituan River in the town's Nituan village.

The signatories of the agreement were Engineer Amier Ashan Aplal, environment management specialist (EMS) of Menre; Senior EMS Mahid Gayak; Nitaun Village Chairperson Precious Johanney Biruar; and Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator May Quesada.

The signing of the accord is in line with Menre’s implementation of the Adopt-an-Estero Program, a collaborative undertaking between and among the ministry, communities, donor-partners, local government units, and other government agencies.

Aplal said the program aims to clean waste, debris, and silt from the esteros, mobilize the communities near the esteros for cleanup activities, and prepare and implement plans for the sustainable cleanliness of esteros and other water bodies in the region.

"Ang layunin talaga natin dito ay para mapanatili natin ang kalinisan ng ating mga ilog. Mga anak natin at mga susunod pang mga henerasyon ang magmamana nito kaya't simulan natin ang pagkilos nang maaga," Aplal said.

He said that for this year, the target of Menre-EMS is to adopt and rehabilitate 20 esteros and creeks under the Environmental Regulations and Pollutions Control Program.

He said Menre has already signed similar agreement with seven stakeholders in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur since March 2021. (SunStar Zamboanga)