PURR
A youthful take on the Iloilo River
THE JUDGES. Angelo Duarte, Eugene Jamerlan, Lary Dumagat, Jomari Moleta, Ed Gonzales and Carlos Garcia.How do you instill on the minds of the students the value of the environment? Through activities that heighten their awareness on such.
One of these is the poster-slogan painting and essay writing contest organized by the Iloilo City Government and implemented by the Iloilo River Development Council (IRDC) recently. Its theme was “Where goes Iloilo River? Flow of Iloilo City’s Future Generations.” The partner organizations were West Visayas State University and the Department of Education – Division of City Schools.
The winners in the essay writing contest were: 1st place – Florence Mathew Besares, 4th year, Ramon Avanceña National High School; 2nd Place – Rachel S. Dionela, 4th year, Mandurriao National High School; and 3rd Place – Jythny Aragon, 4th year, SPED-ISEC HSFG.
Winners of the Iloilo River Week 2009 On-the-Spot Poster-Slogan Painting Contest (High School Category): 1st Place - Leo L. Sanchez, Iloilo City National High School (center); 2nd Place - Noel Elicana, La Paz National High School; 3rd Place - Iian Jhon M. Rivera, Mandurriao National High School.The winners for the poster-slogan painting were:
High School Category; 1st Place – Leo L. Sanchez, 4th year, Iloilo City National High School; 2nd Place – Noel Elicana, 4th year, La Paz National High School; and 3rd Place – Iian Jhon M. Rivera, 4th year, Mandurriao National High School. For the Elementary Category, 1st Place – Irish S. Espesor, Gr. VI, Ticud Elementary School; 2nd Place – Jay Vincent P. Villar, Gr. VI, Bo. Obrero Elementary School; and 3rd Place – Lanz Renuel Otero, Gr. V, Sto. Domingo Elementary School.
The Iloilo River serves as habitat for many fish nurseries. The rise and fall of the tide make it possible for nutrients (such as planktons and detritus, important sources of food of many marine organisms) to circulate in and out of the Iloilo River. It is also a source of fishing livelihood because of the presence of bangus, tilapia, shrimps and crabs. Its brackish water is ideal for fishpond cultivation of prawns, tilapia and bangus. One can also observe the suitability for the growth of mangroves along the banks.
Winners of the Iloilo River Week 2009 On-the-Spot Poster-Slogan Painting Contest (Elementary Category): 1st Place - Irish S. Espesor, Ticud Elementary School (center); 2nd Place - Jay Vincent P. Villar, Bo. Obrero Elementary School; 3rd Place - Lanz Renuel Otero, Sto. Domingo Elementary School.However, human activities have led to the loss of mangrove areas, declining mangrove population, overfishing, water contamination, narrowing of waterways, flooding of some barangays because to the shallow river bed (due to the increased sediments caused by illegal fish pens), lack of public access to the river and the lack of tourism and recreational activities in the river due to unpleasant odor and poor water quality. There used to be a kayaking competition there but complaints of the foul smell caused the discontinuance of such.
The contests focused on the present condition of the Iloilo River as seen by our children and how they can help in preserving its health and biodiversity.