Pangasinan folk urged: Support river cleanup

BINMALEY, Pangasinan, Philippines – Gov. Amado Espino Jr. called for “understanding and cooperation” from the townsfolk, as he led the first assessment meeting here of the provincial government’s program to clean up rivers.           

The meeting was called to assess the progress of the “Ilog ko, Bilayen tan Aroen ko” program here and in the towns of Bugallon, Lingayen and San Fabian and in San Carlos City.

He and the Task Force Kalikasan headed by Paterno Orduña, executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, reported that 90 percent of rivers in Binmaley, Lingayen, Bugallon and San Carlos City have been cleaned up.

More fish species, according to them, now abound in the rivers as a result of the dredging of riverbeds and the removal of permanent structures that could hamper the flow of water.

“The key to the success of this campaign is your understanding and cooperation,” Espino said.

Mayors Lorenzo Cerezo of Binmaley, Ernesto Castañeda Jr. of Lingayen and Rodrigo Orduña of Bugallon and other local officials were present during the meeting and pledged their continued support for the program.