Hundreds join Angeles creek clean-up drive
- Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2016/04/01/hundreds-join-angeles-creek-clean-drive-465524
- Friday, April 1, 2016
- By Reynaldo G. Navales
ANGELES CITY -- Hundreds of volunteers participated in the cleaning of a creek in this city in line with the World Water Day celebration.
Participants in the clean up drive for Sapang Balen creek dubbed "Water and Jobs" came from government and business communities.
The Sapang Balen clean up drive is the culminating activity of the celebration organized by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in cooperation with Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources last March 31.
Cenro head Francis Pangilinan said, "World Water Day is an international observance and an opportunity for our citizens to learn more about water related issues and be inspired to tell others, to take actions and make a difference."
Pangilinan added that the local government unit through the Cenro is taking all the necessary steps to provide clean and potable water by initiating activities to protect the water resources.
A clean-up team was organized to maintain the cleanliness of the Sapang Balen while environmental police units are doing compliance monitoring and apprehensions among households and establishment violating national and local environmental laws, according to Pangilinan.
An information and education campaign unit was also formed to handle the environmental education and communicate to the people issues affecting the environment.
Aside from the clean-up drive, a feeding program was also conducted for the children in the community.
Pangilinan said monthly multi-sectoral clean up drives are being organized as part of the city’s compliance with the Supreme Court Mandamus ordering all local government units with waterways that discharges along Manila Bay to coordinate their efforts and resources in the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation and Preservation Project.
He thanked all those who attended and articulated the importance of their corporate social responsibility among the business sector.
Clean and potable water means the creation of jobs and livelihood among the people, Pangilinan added.
For his part, Forester Reynaldo Garcia from Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region III stressed the importance of protecting our water resources by planting more trees in the upland areas to sustain our water reservoirs.
"Water is life, all living things depend on it for their survival. It is everybody’s concern in the protection and maintaining its purity for our future generation," added Garcia.
The organizations that pledged support to the program include Jollibee Food Corporation Angeles City Area, BB International Leisure and Resort Corporation, Clark, Universal Robina Corporation (URC), Pepsi Cola Bottlers Company, City of San Fernando, Robinson's Place Angeles City, Hotel SOGO Dau, Mabalacat Branch, Metro Clark Waste Management, Angeles Water District (ACWD), Bureau of Jail and Penology Management (BJMP) Angeles District Jail, Bureau of Fire (BFP), Phi Beta Rho Confraternity, and the city disaster management office.