CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City council approved a resolution that requests Mayor Johnny V. de los Reyes to immediately designate a task force whose singular responsibility would be to guard and protect a portion of Mananga River from any entity that may commit criminal acts detrimental to the ecological wellbeing of the Mananga River.
City Councilor Antonio D. Bacaltos, Jr. said illegal activities such as the dumping of garbage into the river, illegal quarrying of sand and gravel, informal settlers living in the area are rampant.
Bacaltos, who is the chairman of the committee on agriculture and aquatic resources and the committee on environmental protection, wildlife ecology and natural resources management, said these criminal offenses are the primary reasons Mananga River has been steadily deteriorating and that this problem must be addressed before it becomes irreversible.
The Mananga River is an integral part of the Central Cebu River System, which also includes Combado-Lusaran River Basin, Kotkot River Basin, and Coastal River basin.
An integral part of Mananga River is within the territorial boundary of the City of Talisay thus maximum protection to safeguard the ecological welfare of the river is of utmost importance.
“All these water basins have been designated as watershed areas and are a protected area,†Bacaltos said in his proposed resolution, which was approved by the council yesterday.
Bacaltos said the LGUs where these rivers belong must be the frontrunner in the protection, management, and rehabilitation of the river. – (FREEMAN)