by Catherine Teves/PNA
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will spearhead a simultaneous cleanup of waterways draining into the Manila Bay on Sunday.
Called the “Battle for the Rivers and Esteros”, the simultaneous cleanup is among the activities to rehabilitate Manila Bay so it would again be fit for swimming and other forms of recreation.
“Battle for the Rivers and Esteros” also seeks to empower and involve communities in protecting the waterways, the DENR said in a statement issued Friday.
Environment chief Roy Cimatu is expected to visit some of the cleanup sites on Sunday.
In an advisory, the DENR identified eight waterways where the cleanup activities will be held, as well as convergence sites where authorities will hold programs related to the cleanup.
The waterways and corresponding convergence sites are:
Tullahan-Tinajeros River (covered court, GSIS Hills Subdivision, Road 8, Barangay 164, Talipapa, Caloocan City);
Marikina River/Manggahan Floodway (basketball court, A. Santos St., Tumana, Marikina City);
Pasig River (Palomar Health Center, Recto Ave., Manila);
Malabon-Navotas River (Navotas Centennial Park, C4 Road, Navotas City);
Las Piñas-Zapote River (Villar Sipag Farm School, Molino Dam, Florlina dela Cruz, Las Piñas);
Parañaque River (Estero de Tripa de Gallina, Bac 1-11 St., Don Carlos Village, Pasay City);
Taguig-Pateros River (Pateros Aguho Municipal Hall);
San Juan River (Barangay Hall, Barangay 598; Barangay Hall, Doña Imelda); and Betty Go Belmonte Elementary School (Barangay Hall, Addition Hills and fire station, Addition Hills).
The DENR set the cleanup period from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The scheduled start of the cleanup is earlier for Pasig River (5 a.m.), Taguig-Pateros River (5 a.m.), and Malabon-Navotas River (5:30 a.m.).
