By Ercel Maandig/PNA
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — In celebration of the World Water Day on Friday (March 22) the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 10 (DENR-10) will highlight the importance of preservation and protection of rivers in Northern Mindanao.
Anchored on the theme “FoRIVER – Together forever for cleaner rivers and #riversforlife” DENR-10 said it seeks to gather around a thousand participants for a clean-up drive along the city’s coastal villages beginning in Barangay Macabalan, where the agency’s office is located.
DENR-10 Executive Director Arleigh J. Adorable on Tuesday said the activity aims to raise awareness on the importance of water and its sustainable development.
Adorable said they also hope to inculcate on the minds of the public the value of fresh water and to promote sustainable freshwater resources management.
“With the active support of the local government units, private and public sectors, we hope that we can sustain our efforts to cleaner rivers in the region. It is important that residents of the area will do their share in taking care of our environment,” the DENR-10 official said.
The celebration will start with a program at 5:45 a.m. at the Macabalan Covered Court to be followed with the clean-up of seven areas.
A signing of Covenant of Membership on “Tayo ang Kalikasan (we are the nature),” with partners from the village, other government agencies, civil society organizations, business sectors, academe, and religious groups will be part of the program.
The seven clean-up areas include Cilrai, Piaping Puti, Piaping Itum, Punta, Barra Proper, Barra Riverside/Barra Shoreline and Accretion–all in Barangay Macabalan.
Adorable said the line bureaus of the DENR, namely the Environmental Management Bureau, Region 10 and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, will also take part in the activity.
Clean-up activities on selected water bodies will be undertaken on the same day by local and provincial environment and natural resources offices all over Northern Mindanao, he said.
