Volunteers collect 15 tons of garbage

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government, Philippine Coast Guard, and several volunteers have collected about 15 tons of garbage during its simultaneous coastal and river cleanup last Saturday.

Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Ma. Nida Cabrera said one group was assigned to clean the coastal area of the South Road Properties (SRP) while another group was cleaning the Lahug River.

“Joint clean up to sa coast guard kay May is ocean month so nag-conduct mi og activity para pag cleanup sa portion sa atong coastal...simultaneous na sa Bulacao river cleanup,” she said.

Last February, the city collected 22 tons of garbage from the Bulacao River cleanup.

Last March, the city also collected 25 tons of garbage from the Lahug River and another 30 tons of garbage along the Guadalupe river.

Cabrera said at least 100 Barangay Environment Officers have helped in the cleanup last Saturday.

Majority of the collected garbage are plastics, slippers, and others, she said.

Cabrera added the city collected 10 tons of garbage from the cleanup along the SRP while another five tons from the Bulacao River.

“Heavily polluted na gyud atong kadagatan mao mag-conduct gyud ta og cleanup kay dili lang ta magsalig nga magsigi ta og pamadlong sa tawo di man gyud labay man lang gihapon. Naa gihapoy kadaghanan gyud sa basura naa paingon sa kadagatan gikan sa sapa labi na bag-o to nag-ulan so grabe kaayo wala maato sa among paglimpyo sa sapa adto paingon sa dagat so mao nay problema,” she said.

Cabrera said the office also implemented the food-for-work program for residents along the rivers in Lahug, Tinago, Tejero, Guadalupe, and Bulacao.

For four hours, there are 15 volunteers in every river and they will get three kilos of rice and six pieces of canned goods.

Cabrera said there are 80 sacks of rice, 2,000 cans of sardines, and 2,000 cans of beef loaf for the food for work program.

Last Tuesday, she said the food for work program was implemented along Bulacao River while the program was also implemented along Tinago and Tejero the day after.

Cabrera said the city has to continue the river cleanup since the residents living along the rivers are still dumping their trash into the waterways. (FREEMAN)