Mandaue youth tapped in "Save Butuanon River" drive

CEBU, Philippines - Businessman Glenn Anthony Soco leads the youth in Mandaue City in a campaign on the protection and preservation of marine resources in the area by first focusing on a cleanup of the Butuanon River.

Soco cited that the Butuanon River passes through 10 barangays of Mandaue City.

He made the announcement on a cleanup during a meeting with youth volunteers from barangays Labogon and Paknaan.

According to Soco, the massive destruction in Metro Manila and other parts of Northern and Central Luzon is a wake-up call to everyone, most especially the youth, to actively get themselves involved in the campaign for the protection of the environment.

The involvement of youth is important as they are also the recipients of benefits they will get from clean coasts and marine environment, he added.

Domestic wastes dumped at the Butuanon River and those coming from big business establishments in the area render this body of water polluted.

Soco recalled that his father, former city councilor Guillermo “Momoy” Soco, tried to address the problem until the end of his term. But that some city officials failed to make a follow-up to the programs focusing on the environment initiated by his father.

The already polluted Butuanon River has always been a threat to the marine lives at Mactan Channel and to the surrounding communities.

Soco said he has also brought up the problem with environmental groups based in Mandaue City. — Jose P. Sollano/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)