CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Calabarzon Regional Office has spearheaded the comprehensive clean-up of the Zapote River, now a filthy river in Barangay Molino 3 in Bacoor City, Cavite.
DENR Calabarzon Regional Director Dr. Sofio B. Quintana said over the weekend that he led the clean-up drive on May 2 to commence observance of May as “Ocean Month” in a bid to start cleaning river systems that flow to the big bodies of water such as oceans and seas.
“Pag sinabing comprehensive clean-up, talagang ‘yan ay matindi (if it were a comprehensive clean-up, then it should be dead serious business),” Quintana said
Quintana said that the clean-up of the filthy Zapote River was upon instructions from DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu since July 2017 when he was then the agegecy’s National Capital Regional Director.
He cited the dedication of every participants in the comprehensive clean-up, saying the activities hinge on shared responsibility and DENR, through its mandate has to take the lead.
“Sabi ko, ‘sir, iyan pong Zapote River ay boundary ng NCR at Calabarzon Region, kaya hindi nagtagal, minabuti namin na pumunta kay City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) of Bacoor (I replied then that Zapote River borders the NCR and Calabarzon Region, and immediately we went to the Bacoor CENRO),” he said, adding that “it is but my official and moral obligation to be here.”
He said that his meeting with Rolando Bucalan, Bacoor City ENRO tackled agreements to undertake several activities where the Zapote River comprehensive clean-up is one of them.
Melinda G. Gordo, in-charge of the DENR Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Section, said Bucalan also rallied Barangay Molino 3 residents to have their sense of responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of the river.
“Hindi porke’t may pumupulot ng basura ay may karapatan na ang taong magkalat… Sana naman po, pag-alis namin dito, meron po kayong responsibilidad na panatilihing malinis ‘yong aming mga nilinis (it’s not any person’s right to litter just because it is someone else’s job to clean up your mess. We hope you will be responsible to sustain the cleanliness that we have started),” Bucalan said.
Bucalan with Michael Dapdapig of the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Calabarzon office told village residents that throwing garbage into the river could only take seconds, but it would be difficult for the clean-up process as this takes days to clean and retrieve the trashes from the river.
Meanwhile, Reynaldo Belen, chief of the technical services division, DENR-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)-Cavite underscored the importance of discipline in maintaining the cleanliness in the area not only in the barangay but also throughout the province.
Belen said that the massive cleanup involves those from the highlands because wastes disposed at the upland will eventually flow down to the low-lying areas.
Joining in the comprehensive river clean-up activities were representatives from the Bacoor City government; DENR regional office; DENR-EMB Calabarzon; Cavite PENRO; Cavite Provincial Government ENR Office; Metro Manila Development Authority; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); and Barangay Molino 3 residents.
The DENR and the city government also agreed to create a technical working group to formulate the guidelines for the long-term management of the Zapote River. (PNA)
