MANILA, June 22 — In celebration of the Philippine Environment Month this June, the Quezon City government, through the QC Environment Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD), will conduct a simultaneous clean-up activity in all rivers and creeks that traverse the city on June 28 and 30.
The clean-up activity aims to make Quezon City’s four major river systems and its 41 tributaries clean and clear of solid waste; provide jobs to at least 120 indigent residents; encourage public concern for the environment and raise awareness on the benefits that can be gained by protecting the environment; and organize groups that will be responsible in continuously maintaining the cleanliness of the city’s river ways.
In 2015 the EPWMD through its Riverways Cleaning Operations Group (RCOG) collected 1,824 cubic meters of solid wastes from the four rivers. Based on the report of the EPWMD, there was a gradual decrease of wastes collected in waterways from 2003 to 2016.
A total of 104 dump trucks of wastes was collected from river ways last year, 90 dump trucks less than the 194 dump trucks collected in 2003.
The decrease in waste collection is the result of the implementation of the QC Sagip Batis in 2003 that aims to mitigate the occurrence of the flooding in barangays during the rainy season.
Aside from the QC Sagip Batis program, the Quezon City Council has passed City Ordinance 2140 or the Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance of 2012 that aims to regulate plastic bag usages.
“Taking good care of the environment is not the responsibility of government alone. We all should do our share. Every plastic bag that becomes unused is in itself a victory for the environment,” according to Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista.
This year’s official theme is “Connecting People to Nature” and to encourage the people to go outdoors, appreciate the beauty and importance of nature and to take part in preserving and protecting the Earth, the environment department created a tagline dubbed as “#I’m With Nature.”
Aside from the clean-up drive activities in all rivers and creeks, there will be a massive information, education and communication campaign on solid and liquid waste management.
The implementation of the desludging ordinance and other local ordinances will be conducted in Barangay Roxas on June 22 this year, Doǹa Imelda on June 23, Damayang Lagi and Tatalon on June 27 and 29 respectively. (SFM/PNA)