Hilongosnons want Salog River rehabilitation

HILONGOS, LEYTE, Philippines  â€” Almost 2,000 residents from various sectors of this town staged a rally in support of the petition for the issuance of environmental protection order to preserve and rehabilitate Salog River here.

This river, which was once abundant with milkfish that provided food to the Hilongosnons, has through the years been damaged with the entry of construction businesses that engaged sand and gravel quarrying in the area.

Massive extraction of sand and gravel had caused most part of Salog River to dry with notable excessive sedimentation of upstream and downstream areas, the residents said.

They said that sediments can affect the fish population and spawning capabilities, and that the quarrying activities do not only remove gravel but also destroy the river's ecosystem.

Quarrying has disabled Salog River to rehabilitate naturally, even causing soil erosion on its banks, the affected residents lamented, as they complained about this present condition that have also caused problems on water supply.

After years of suffering this problem, Hilongosnons filed at the Regional Trial Court-Branch 18 (environmental court) in this town a petition for rehabilitation and restoration of the health of Salog River and its tributary.

In an interview with The Freeman, environment lawyer Benjamin Cabrido Jr., said the filing of the petition was mainly for the preservation and rehabilitation of the affected river and never for political purpose.

Cabrido said that, even if he was not a resident of Hilongos, his main concern is for environmental protection, and that Hilongosnons must be awaken now to support this petition primarily for the benefit of the next generation.

On the other hand, Jo Dinah Carmel Viterbo, president of HAGIT (honesty, accountability, good governance, integrity, and transparency) organization, said she wanted to raise this problem to a wider perspective so that the people of Hilongos will realize fully the need for Salog River to be rehabilitated.

Hilongos Youth For Peace president Menans Aljon Reoma, for his part, said his group supported this petition, while Mayor Jose Emery "Joy" Roble also wanted a court action to stop the river's destruction.  (FREEMAN)