ENVIRONMENT and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu warned his regional directors and their personnel that they could lose their positions if they fail to take action in cleaning up river systems in their areas.
But Cimatu also promised that they will be rewarded with promotions if they are serious in this campaign.
“I am directing these regional directors to make sure that all rivers in their area will be cleaned. To those personnel who are negligent in their rivers, I will look for people who are better than them to replace them,” Cimatu said in his speech before participants of the 4th International River Summit in Cebu Thursday, Nov. 22.
Cimatu, a retired army general, recalled that during his first assignment in Cebu over four decades ago, he was impressed with the cleanliness and tranquility of the Butuanon River in Mandaue City.
But upon his return to Cebu as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), he found that the river is in a terrible state.
“Mas malinis noon. Eh ngayon, what happened? Parang Boracay din na malinis pero nadumihan (It was cleaner before. Just like Boracay, which was clean and then got soiled),” Cimatu said.
Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing agrees with Cimatu.
Quisumbing admitted that Butuanon River, which has served as an icon of his city’s ecological past, fell on hard times due to Mandaue’s rapid urbanization and development.
It came to a point that the Butuanon River was known as the “worst river in the country.”
But Quisumbing said that, through his administration and the assistance of various organizations, they have strived to help revive the Butuanon River of old.
But aside from the Butuanon River, there are more river systems in the country that have been heavily affected by pollution and rapid urbanization, Cimatu said.
The DENR recorded that of the 421 river systems in the country, around 180 are already polluted.
Out of the 421 river systems, 50 are biologically dead and are in need of intensive rehabilitation as a way to bring back aquatic life and the ecosystem services that they provide, Cimatu said.
Some rivers are highly-contaminated with fecal coliform, he said.
Cimatu believes that the summit was timely as it will help raise awareness, resources and commitment to help restore rivers back to their former glory.
Meanwhile, as part of Cebu City’s contribution to the international river summit, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) formally opened the Mahiga River Park.
The park is along the three-meter easement of the Mahiga Creek, where the City has ongoing rehabilitation.
CCENRO used ecobricks and eco-pavers for the beautification of the Mahiga Creek’s easement area.
CCENRO Chief Ma. Nida Cabrera said ecobricks are plastic bottle sstuffed with plastic to create reusable building blocks in a form of benches while eco-pavers are made of crushed glass combined with cement mixture.
The City spent P50,000 for the beautification of the park since most of the materials used are recyclables.
“The problem on garbage in this area before was really huge and even after our beautification efforts, there are still wastes. That is why we will closely monitor the area,” she told reporters.
The Mahiga River Park, Cabrera said, is the product of the convergence of efforts from the City and the private sector since they donated the plastic bottles, among other recyclable materials.
After the launching of the park last Thursday, Nov. 22, CCENRO turned over the project to the City’s Parks and Playgrounds for the project to be maintained.
Cabrera said Barangay Mabolo will also help in monitoring the park since it is located in its jurisdiction.
She said they also asked Mayor Tomas Osmeña to allow the deployment of some personnel from the barangay intelligence network to secure the places. (JKV, RVC)