Benguet town holds garbage cleanup drive

FOUR village in Tuba, Benguet, in coordination with the personnel from Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) Baguio led by officer-in-charge Ranier Balbuena have joined the river cleanup drive on June 29 where most of the garbage collected came from Baguio City.

The initiative was part of the “Agos ng Buhay” or the “Ridge to Reef” program aimed in the preservation of the ecosystem along the river tributaries from Tuba going to Gallano River in Aringay, La Union down to the West Philippine Sea spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a joint effort of the village officials, students and residents of Tadiangan village, the group collected a total of 18 sacks of garbage in Eleo River comprising of non-biodegradable materials.

Tadiangan Punong Barangay Steward Batuna said, “possibly most garbage collected came from Irisan village in Baguio City where most are worn out or used plastic bottles, slippers and clothes thrown in the waterways.”

“We are reminding them not to throw anywhere and observe the waste management practice because their activities contribute to pollution,” Batuna added.

In Poblacion village, the drive attended by village health workers in Agayyek Badiwan Creek collected also at least five non-biodegradable garbage.

“Some of these garbage came from the residents of Dontogan barangay in Baguio City,” Poblacion village chief Oliver Paus said.

Officials and residents of Nangalisan village also joined the clean-up at the the Nangalisan River and collected seven sacks of garbage while nine sacks were collected in Lemmis River in San Pascual village.

Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section (PAMBCS) head Glea Lagon of CENRO Baguio said through the program, they will be able to help the residents practice and observe cleanliness in the waterways downstream.

“Let us help clean the river, let us show that we have effort. We will be presenting this activity in the central office so different activities for the preservation and maintenance will be funded by the government,” Lagon said.

The cleanup drive is also in celebration of the environment month last June which coincided with several information and education campaigns held in some high schools in Tuba last month. (PR)