Cebu City to launch “Adopt-an-Estero” program

CEBU, Philippines — Breathing new life into two of Cebu City’s most critical waterways, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) joined the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and partner organizations in a coordination meeting under the Adopt-an-Estero Program to revive rehabilitation efforts for the Guadalupe and Mahiga Rivers.

The meeting, led by EMB Regional Director Atty. John Edward Ang, aligned stakeholder roles and reviewed the latest water quality monitoring results, a prelude to the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Agreement later in 2026.

CCENRO emphasized that collaboration among government agencies, barangays, NGOs, and private partners remains essential to restoring the ecological health of the rivers.

According to CCENRO head Editha Peros, the Adopt-an-Estero initiative has long been in place to monitor and maintain Cebu’s waterways.

“Existing na ni ang sa Guadalupe, nya naa nay bag-ong adoptors pud ani… Ang sa Butuanon existing na pud ni, ang kining sa Mahiga lang ang bag-o,” Peros said, stressing that while Guadalupe and Butuanon Rivers already had established partnerships, Mahiga’s rehabilitation is a newer undertaking.

Launched in 2010, the Adopt-an-Estero Program mobilizes communities and institutions to clean and maintain waterways.

In Cebu, the program has been instrumental in addressing pollution and flooding.

Last August 2025, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Region VII and Barangay Guadalupe renewed their MOA for three more years, while the Cebu City Council proposed an “Adopt-a-Waterway Ordinance” to encourage corporate stewardship of rivers and creeks.

The Guadalupe River, considered one of the dirtiest in Cebu City, traverses 10 barangays before discharging into the Mactan Channel.

Pollution from domestic waste and plastics has long plagued the river.

The Mahiga River, running 9.1 kilometers between Cebu City and Mandaue City, was declared biologically dead in 2018 due to untreated wastewater and solid waste.

Monitoring in 2020 revealed oxygen levels far below standards and fecal coliform counts millions of times higher than safe thresholds.

Both rivers were severely affected during Typhoon Tino in November 2025, when flooding exposed weaknesses in drainage and river management.

The disaster underscored the urgency of sustained rehabilitation and stronger coordination among agencies and communities.

With the renewed partnership, CCENRO and EMB aim to institutionalize river recovery through coordinated action, community engagement, and private sector involvement.

The upcoming MOA signing later this year is expected to formalize commitments and accelerate interventions to improve water quality, reduce flooding risks, and restore ecological balance for Cebu City residents. — /IHM (FREEMAN)