CEBU City Mayor Edgardo Labella has promised to join in the cleanup and dredging operations in rivers and creeks that often overflow with litter during downpours.
To fine-tune the preparations for these activities, the mayor will be conducting a meeting on Monday afternoon, July 15, 2019.
During the meeting, the mayor is expected to check the conditions of the barangays where the rivers and creeks flow through before going to the sea with officials from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Engineering and Public Works and Management Information and Computer System and Department of Public Services.
“Akong gusto nga mahibalik ang katin-aw sa tubig ug makapuyo og balik ang mga isda sa atong kasapaan nga wala na maatiman sa gobiyerno sulod sa dugay nang katuigan (I want to see clear water and I want the fish back in our rivers that have long been neglected by the government),” Labella said.
Creeks clogged with trash often cause flooding in some parts of the city.
A simultaneous cleanup drive will be conducted in the creeks in Sitio Mahiga, Barangay Mabolo, Barangay Parian and Barangay Tejero and in the rivers of Guadalupe and Bulacao.
Aside from Labella and the engineering battalion of the Philippine Army, expected to join in the cleanup drive are employees of the City Hall, department heads, elected officials, barangay officials and workers and volunteers.
The mayor said he will assign focal persons in City Hall departments to prepare the lists of employees who will join the activities. He said the employees who refuse to join may face complaints.
Labella has not yet set a date for the cleanup and dredging operations, but he wants these to happen over the weekend.
Cleaning the rivers and creeks of Cebu City was one of the campaign promises made by Labella when he ran in the mayoral race and defeated former mayor Tomas Osmeña. (FROM PAC OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / KAL)