Barangays along Mahiga River told: Do your part in cleaning waterway

CEBU, Philippines — Barangay officials of areas along the Mahiga River are urged to do their part in keeping the waterway clean and not rely on the Cebu City government’s personnel to do the job.

The 9.1 kilometer river flows from Barangay Busay all the way to Barangays Apas, Banilad, Kasambagan, Mabolo and Carreta.

Several clean-up drives have already been done in the past, yet the problem of garbage in the river remains, said Task Force Gubat sa Baha’s (TFGsB) Mahiga River ground commander, Susan Araneta.

According to Araneta, residents in the area continue to throw garbage in the river especially in Barangays Kasambagan and Mabolo.

In January of this year alone, Araneta said the TFGsB collected around two tons of garbage at the Mahiga River beside Innodata in Mabolo and at the waterway’s mouth at the North Reclamation Area.

She lamented that what’s worse is the residents’ disrespect for the personnel, who work to clear the river.

 “Wala pa gane mi kalakaw. Wala pa ka biya ang truck, naa na po’y nidagayday nga basura sa sapa,” disclosed Araneta.

Others would also defecate in the river, threatening the safety and health of TFGsB’s cleaners.

There are more than 1,000 households identified as living within the three-meter easement of the Mahiga River. Most of the dwellers are renters.

With this, Araneta is asking for the help of barangay captains in monitoring and in keeping the area clean.

 “Suggestion sa mga kapitan, ilabi na sa mga bag-ong nahurar, manghina-ot unta ko nga ang inyong isig ka barangay, naa man gyud mo’y mga tanod o sa satellite (office) ba, kanang hotspot sa mga hugaw nga lugaw, ipa-monitor ninyo sa inyong mga tawo,” Araneta said through the City’s Sugboanon channel.

Araneta stressed that the participation of barangay officials is crucial in keeping the rivers clean, particularly in disciplining their constituents.

Unfortunately, there are some barangay officials who refuse to discipline those caught throwing garbage at the river.

“Naa’y mga kapitan nga mo-ingon nga dili sila ka-control sa mga tawo,” Araneta said, adding that the officials would not even cooperate with the TFGsB’s cleanup efforts.

Araneta disclosed that a barangay official accordingly told her to just deploy TFGsB workers to clean up the river without the barangay’s help.

“During sa last year nga administrasyon, giingnan pami sa kapitan ‘Daghan man na inyong tawo, apili ni’g silhig ning dan,” Araneta recalled, as she hopes that barangay officials would take TFGsBs campaign seriously.

“Nagtuo man gud na sila nga ang city government gyud mao’y nag-obliga sa maong barangay,” added Araneta. (CEBU NEWS)