Cebu City eyes  more trash traps in waterways

CEBU, Philippines — More trash traps will be set up in Cebu City’s waterways with the hope of making the city cleaner, greener and safe.

Just a week after city-wide river clean-up, a truck-load of garbage was hauled again in Barangay Day-as.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros, who earlier said that last week’s coastal clean-up would be his last time to be spearheading such an event, was seen yesterday still joining a clean-up drive.

The event was organized by the Fraternal Order of Eagles-Philippines Eagles’ United Eagles Club and Lakandula united together with the 7th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) Reserve Command and the 701st Community Defense Center’s Rescom under the Philippine Army.

Right after cleaning up, the group placed a trash trap also known as a drainage net.

The drainage nets or so-called “trash traps” have also been used even in advanced countries to reduce the discharge of plastic waste from drainage systems.

The nets are placed to prevent pollutants and solid waste, carried by stormwater from the local road network, from flowing into the nature reserves.

After the pilot area in Day-as, Hontiveros expects the group to pursue their plans of doing it in other areas.

“Yes, pilot area pa to..Giuna namo ang Day-as kay mahug siyag catch basin, diha mupadong ang basura sa ubang barangay, mao tong daghan kaayong basura nakuha kaina (yesterday),” said Joseph Versaga, president of Fort United Eagles Club to The Freeman yesterday.

Versaga said they plan to put trash traps in other barangays soon.

“Sa lain na pud na barangay sunod...Mag-agad ming Vice (Hontiveros) kung asa ang next,” added Versaga though also looks forward again to working with the Lakandula Club headed by arnis master Gerald Canete.

Versaga said, once all trash traps will be installed, it will now be known where the garbage is really from.

“Kung ubang barangays naa na puy net, ma-determine na ni kung asa gyud na barangay ang source aning mga basura,” said Versaga.

Hontiveros also emphasizes that taking care of the environment and the city is a “shared responsibility” and not solely the work of the local government, but everyone. - Romeo D. Marantal, GMR (FREEMAN)