30 groups to join clean-up drive

LOCAL government units (LGUs), industry partners, private establishments and non-government organizations are set to hold a clean-up drive in 18 water bodies adopted in Eastern Visayas on September 21. The clean-up drive, which is under the Adopt-An-Estero Program, is in line with the “Philippine Clean up Month” as proclaimed in Presidential Proclamation 244.

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) celebrates clean-up month to intensify the campaign to raise awareness toward waste minimization. In Tacloban City, the Burayan River and Mahayahay Creek will be cleaned up by Coca Cola Bottlers Phils. Inc.-Tacloban Plant and Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChe), while the Mangonbangon River will be cleaned up by Geodetic Engineers of the Phils., Mother of Mercy Hospital, Divine World Hospital, McCarol Ventures, Rotary Club of Kandaya, Leyte Normal University, Petron Tacloban Depot, Couples for Christ-Hold, Volunteer for the Visayas.

The EMB will also take the clean-up to Albuera, Leyte for the Bacan River together with Pulp Specialties Phils. Inc.; to Ormoc City for the Panalian River with Leyte Agri Corp.; to Baybay City for Pagbanganan River and Utlanan Creek with respective donor partners Baybay City Autotek Services, LGU Baybay, and Specialty Pulp Manufacturing Inc.; to Isabel for the Cabangcoy Creek with Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. (Pasar), and Matlang River with Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation (PhilPhos); to Julita, Leyte for the Balugo River together with the LGU of Julita; to Kananga, Leyte for the Canawagan, Bao and Mahiao Rivers; to Macarthur, Leyte for Mahanod River with Leyte Ironsand Corp.; to Maasin City for the Combado River together with RB&Co., Maasin Muslim Community and the LGU of Maasin and the Tuburan River together with Kalye San Jose, Asi sa Kalamboan and the LGU-Maasin; and, to Calbayog City for the Calbayog River together with the Samar Coco Products Manufacturing Inc.

The EMB enjoined the communities for active participation and cooperation to achieve a successful celebration of national clean-up month and inculcate the importance of clean environment for healthy living.