DENR leads celebration of international coastal clean-up
"Buhayin at Ipaglaban/Malinis na Katubigan ng Bayan" is the battle cry of the International Coastal Clean Up as the celebration is being led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for this year 2007. The annual celebration reminds people from all walks of life on the importance of the coastal areas as natural resource that should be protected, cleaned, and maintained.
The clean-up activities shall be conducted simultaneously on Saturday, September 15, 2007 on separate areas that will commence at 6:00 in the morning to be participated in by all government agencies, the City Government of Iloilo, non-government organizations, the academe, pumpboat operators, ship owners and the coastal barangays. Each participant is enjoined to bring their gloves, sticks and other paraphernalia like plastic bags and their own snacks and food.
According to Regional Technical Director Arlene T. Dalawis of the Protected Area and Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services (PAWCZMS) of the DENR, Region VI, the cleaning areas will cover 5 zones. This will start from the Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus up to the Rotary Park as the First Zone and shall be headed by the Land Management Services with Meliton Solas as coordinator; from Rotary park to Aduana (Post Office) as the Second Zone to be led by the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau with Jethro N. Talledo as coordinator; from the Post Office to Forbes Bridge to be led by the Office of the RED as the Third Zone with Lucia Lim as coordinator; from Forbes Bridge to Carpenter's Bridge in Mandurriao, led by forest Management Services as the Fourth Zone with Lucia M. Jardinico as coordinator; and from Sto. Niño Sur, Sto. Niño Norte and Arevalo up to Breakthrough under the Ecosystems Research and Development Services as the Fifth Zone.
The wastes gathered shall be deposited in an area identified by the Zone leaders. These wastes shall be sorted, weighed, and recorded and the data cards shall be forwarded to Manila for record purposes. The wastes shall be collected and transported by the Iloilo City Government dump trucks under the General Services Department.
A short program shall be conducted at the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University who is the annual partner of the DENR in the coastal clean up at 6:00 A.M. before the clean-up will commence. This will be attended only by those assigned at the Molo and Arevalo areas. The briefing for the city areas shall be on the following places: Zone I –Fort San Pedro Drive In by Ma. Theresa Sutacio, Zone II Freedom Grandstand by Armando Dayrit, Zone 3 –In front of the Provincial Capitol by Jose Armando Ormigas, Zone 4 at Gaisano City Open Parking Lot by Engr. Yvonne Faldas.
Regional Executive Director Lormelyn E. Claudio said that this annual clean-up hopes to increase the level of awareness of people in the proper waste management and likewise help in abating climate change that is now the worst environmental enemy the world is facing.
(rac/RPAO)