THE Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) collected more than 100 tons of garbage along the coastline and further inland after the Earth Day cleanup activities last Saturday, April 22.
Cenro head Engineer Eliza Madrazo, in an interview with SunStar Davao Monday, April 24, said that members of different departments had a tree planting in Kibalang, and a coastal cleanup last Saturday.
She said that almost all of the 26 coastal villages participated during the event, and the village officials were also joined by the participants from the Bayan Ko Linis Ko program of Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
"Nag-cleanup sila dili lang sa coastal area," she said.
As of Monday morning, their team has not gathered all the garbage collected from the cleanup and they are yet to classify which garbage are generated from coastal cleanup and those which are collected from the villages.
"Davao City has sustained our activities, it is yearly event, but I always advise barangay officials to conduct weekly coastal clean-up," she said.
Madrazo said that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is now eyeing to strengthen programs for coastal areas.
"We will craft a program together with Central 911 to apprehend those who are illegally throwing their garbage not just in the coastal area but on the riverbanks," she said.
She added she is hopeful that through this move, the people will cooperate more in cleaning of their areas of jurisdiction.
Madrazo said that among challenges they face is the non-accountability of the villages of the garbage thrown in their area of jurisdiction. (KVC)