AT LEAST 94 private and public partners have committed to help the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 clean up 10 priority rivers in Central Visayas.
DENR 7 Regional Director Gilbert Gonzales said all 94 partners have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and memorandum of partnership (MOP) with the DENR.
The groups have committed to participate in the Rivers for Life Program where they will help rehabilitate the rivers in their respective communities.
Of the 94 partners, 83 are from the private sector, including households and businesses operating near the rivers.
“We recognize the support that we are now getting from our partners, especially the support coming from the local government units and private establishments, for their commitment to help us address the huge volume of silt, wastes and other debris that have affected our river systems in the region,” Gonzales said.
As stated in the MOA, the partners will help improve the condition of the river systems by conducting information and education campaigns, community mobilization activities, training for concerned stakeholders and holding regular clean-up activities.
On the second river clean-up held last March 22, 1,439 sacks containing 23,057 kilos of garbage were gathered by volunteers who helped clean Bulacao River, Luyang River and Butuanon River in Cebu; Manaba River, Abatan River and Inabanga River in Bohol; Banica River, Sicopong River and Panam-angan River in Negros Oriental and Señora River in Siquijor.
A day after the clean-up, Argao’s Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Aniceto Aquino and the Cebu City Government also launched the Bulacao River Park Development in Barangay Inayawan in Cebu City, where they opened pathways on the riverbanks using ecobricks and planted trees in the area. (From HBL of SuperBalita Cebu, LRC)