THE Cagayan de Oro City Council finally gave Tuesday, September 3, what the environmentalists were asking for in the past six years, as it approved the ordinance that will fund efforts in protecting the environment.
The ordinance, called Promotion of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation Network, will mean a unified effort for government and nongovernment organizations in Cagayan de Oro City to rehabilitate particularly the watersheds in order to prevent flooding.
Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, author of the ordinance, said the City Government shall set aside P10 million to maintain the rehabilitation efforts an support other activities.
Nacaya said this ordinance was pending for six years now, "because no one would sponsor an imposing ordinance".
The first version of the ordinance wants to involve water consumers by asking them Ecological Services and Protection Fee ordinance, which imposes an increase of 25 centavos per cubic meter in a household's water monthly bill.
The Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council said they want to promote stewardship and tell the public they are part of the solution.
"Unfortunately, dili pa ready ang katawhan. Five pesos unta every household is nothing mas maayo gyud unta naay contribution ang nag-gamit sa atong kinaiyahan," Nacaya said.