Inspection of creeks in Roxas City starts
ROXAS CITY – A team was tasked by Task Force on Environmental Protection of the Roxas City government to check on the status of creeks amid the real estate and housing developments in the city.
The assignment was an offshoot of the inaugural meeting of the Task Force on August 18 presided by Councilor Powell Del Rosario, chairperson of the City Council’s committee on environment protection and natural resources.
“Creeks are supposed to be waterways but most of them have disappeared because some people have exceeded their property lines,” Del Rosario noted.
He added that flooding in some parts of the city will continue if these creeks can’t be restored to its natural state.
Mayor Alan Celino created the Task Force through Executive Order No. 4 to lead in the protection, conservation and preservation of the environment to enhance the ecosystem and biodiversity that will contribute to the health and welfare of the residents.
The team will be composed of representatives from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Engineers Office and Office of the City Agriculturist, among others.
It is expected to submit a recommendation of its findings next month.
During the meeting, Del Rosario also commended City Agriculturist Salvador Borda for the successful campaign of the Coastal Resource Management-Bantay Dagat against illegal fishing activities in the city’s territorial waters.
Bantay Dagat has apprehended seven violators of the local fisheries ordinance since July 1, 2010.
Del Rosario also conveyed some of the major environmental issues that the city government would like to focus on, such as the clean up of rivers and problems with junk shops along Brgy. Cagay.
The Task Force will again meet on September 15.*PIA
