"Linis Estero" program draws many supporters

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 director Maximo Dichoso met with nearly 60 representatives from business sector, local government units, academe and other stakeholders for a consultative meeting on its “Linis Estero” Program.

The “Linis Estero Program” is a collaborative undertaking among the river or estero community, donor-partner, local government units and the DENR

“A Linis Estero donor or partner may be a business establishment, an industry association, a non-government organization or any other group that volunteers to be a major actor in cleaning up our rivers,” Dichoso said.

“The donor may help in the cleanup of a river or estero by providing equipment, human power, and other resources needed to do actual clean up in partnership with the concerned local government unit, the DENR and other partners,” Dichoso said.

The Adopt-a-River or Estero Program of the DENR encourages the cleaning up and maintenance of a particular river or estero. It is part of the agency’s massive cleanup and rehabilitation of tributaries of major water bodies.

‘The program aims to institutionalize good sanitation and solid wastes management practices among the river or estero communities through education and actual participation in the program thereby reducing incidence of water-related diseases and those associated with poor sanitation such cholera, diarrhea, and dengue, particularly among children,” Dichoso said.

“We are encouraged by the warm expression of support by the business sectors and other stakeholders in cleaning up our Butuanon and Guadalupe rivers and other tributaries to ensure unimpeded water flow, particularly during rainy season and thereby prevent and reduce incidence of flooding and risks to lives and properties,” Dichoso said.

Butuanon River is a 23-kilometer water body which originates in the mountain area around Metro Cebu and eventually discharges into Mactan Channel.

Approximately 10-kilometer length of the river is crossing Metro Cebu area, most significantly the heavily industrialized and densely populated areas of Mandaue City. 

Guadalupe River, on the other hand, is a 12-kilometer water body which crossed the heavily extremely densely populated areas of Guadalupe and downtown Cebu City.

“We know there are industries and other well-meaning organizations who are interested in improving the condition of our waterways which have become threats to public health and safety because of pollution. Since most of these are tributaries of lakes, seas and oceans, and with the astonishing volume of garbage we always collect during clean up drives, maintaining cleaner waterways should be a collective priority and a shared responsibility,” Dichoso said.

He cited the occurrence of La Niña this year that brings above normal rainfall as another reason why the scheme needs to be undertaken in other areas at the soonest possible time.

“It may be safe to say that some of these were caused by clogged waterways, especially in urban centers. We do not want a repeat of the 25 January 2011 flooding incident that caused so much inconvenience to the people in the cities of Mandaue and Cebu,” he said. (FREEMAN)