The river runs freely again

When industrialization took the southern route, the population grew considerably as a result. A surge of population translates into increased waste. If there is a river, which is where waste usually finds its way. The improper disposal of waste can literally suffocate a river. That was the fate of the Silang-Santa Rosa River, which was transformed into a dumpsite. Waste and debris clogged it and kept the water stagnant for years, making it more like a waste lake. It took concerted efforts of concerned citizens and groups to make the river flow again.

The Silang-Santa Rosa River is Laguna Lake Development Authority’s showcase area. LLDA has jurisdiction over 21 river systems, majority of which are badly polluted and needing rehabilitation. It organized a river council and involved the companies operating within the industrial area, the mayors of Santa Rosa, Silang and Biñan, the Rotary Club and the surrounding communities. The multi-sectoral involvement guarantees a high rate of success with all sectors having ownership of the project.

S3R2

S3R2 may sound like a Star Wars character, but it actually stands for Save Silang Santa Rosa River, the foundation that was formed in September 1997 to address the river issues. Since its creation, the foundation has introduced numerous programs.

The foundation’s board of trustees has a multi-sectoral composition. Its members, representing the different sectors involved in the river project, meet monthly and each sector presents a status report. S3R2’s new president is Mike Aclan, plant manager of the Coca-Cola Santa Rosa Plant II.

S3R2’s vision to be "a healthy and progressive community of conscious, committed and responsible people dedicated to the protection of the Silang-Santa Rosa river and working harmoniously with the communities towards the continuous preservation of the environment."

Zoning

S3R2’s initial task was to zone the river to better monitor and control its entire length of 27 kilometers. They divided the river into three zones and identified the varied levels of environmental degradation and the nature of the pollution in each zone. The zones exhibit different characteristics depending on their operations and habitation.

Zone 1 of the Silang stretch needs strengthening of its eroded banks. Zone 2 is where heavy industries operate, and the companies present there are involved now in formulating the appropriate environmental strategy. Zone 3 is the most populated area with the domestic waste of communities posing a problem.

New developments

S3R2 has come out with its own newsletter aptly named Cascade. Through the two issues it has published so far, it was able to update its stakeholders of the latest developments and ongoing activities.

Improvements in the river can be gleaned from Aclan’s statement: "Before we were talking of sacks in 1,000s of waste collected from the river. Now it is in 100s."

The foundation is on its fourth year and recently marked its anniversary with a big clean up, which was a two-day affair, and tree planting led by Offie Arcillas, the active wife of Santa Rosa Mayor Leon Arcillas. She is also chairman of the Clean and Green Program and tourism head of Santa Rosa. She explained that Santa Rosa’s high population growth requires disciplining the citizenry by imposing penalties on violators of their anti-littering ordinance and providing a waste can in every passenger jeep and tricycle.

Tree planting is a vigorous activity of S3R2, particularly during its anniversary and on April 22, which is Earth Day. They encourage it in all barangays.

Adopting a barangay

Some of the industries operating in the area have adopted a barangay. Two years ago, Nissin Biscuits adopted Barangay Balibago and Integrated Microelectronics, Inc. adopted Barangay Kaingin. The latter donated two computers for office use and paint for the concrete canal. It also planted 2,758 trees along the riverbank in Barangay Kaingin. Last year, Toyota Motors Foundation adopted Barangay Pulong Sta. Cruz.

Youth participation

Involving the youth in a project that has social implications is usually met with overwhelming enthusiasm. So when S3R2 introduced the adoption by a school of a portion of the river closest to it, it proved to be a positive move to which they are directing their youthful energy. The students of the school take the responsibility of caring for that riverbank and seeing to it that it is clean on daily inspection. They can also plant trees along the bank.

As Gomer Carta, past president of Rotary Club of Santa Rosa, illustrates: "Before there was only information dissemination to school children, but now they have actual participation."

S3R2 coordinates with the CAT (Citizens Army Training) of various private and public high schools for daily monitoring and keeping their particular portion of the river free of litter. S3R2 recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Girl Scouts of the Philippines to solicit their participation.

Environmental armies

Zone 3 pioneered the environmental army concept. They set up the first brigade composed of volunteer fishermen trained by LLDA to patrol and police the area of polluters. This has grown in number and now each area has its own army. To add to that, the local government has agreed to organize and fund its own environmental army.

Everyone involved in the project is aware that it would take a long time and much effort to revive a river that has been neglected, but they are not about to give up until they see it come back to life again.