The San Carlos City Environment Management Office (CEMO) held cleanup activities in observance of the World Wetlands Day, on the theme “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing”.
About 23 sacks of residual waste, mostly fishing nets, discarded clothes and sacks, washed-out woods, food wrappers, and diapers were collected during the clean-up drive in Sitio Galicia, Barangay 5 Feb. 3.
Twelve sacks of garbage, mostly castoff clothes, fishing nets, glass bottles, PVC pipes, tires, and shoe soles, were also gathered in the clean-up drive in Ka-Priking, Brgy. 1 Feb. 2, initiated by CEMO and personnel of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) Site Management Unit in Negros Occidental, the city said.
Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation in-charge Cristopher Rey Atilano said the celebration is aimed at raising awareness about the importance of wetland rehabilitation and preservation of food sources, water purifiers, and natural flood control.
Atilano added that the clean-up drive in the area was a follow-up to the activity they conducted last year, since they have observed that wastes from the upland were being washed into the area.
Atilano said the CEMO, with the City Agriculture’s Office, also planned to hold an orientation on the sustainable use of wetlands among rice farmers in the upland barangays.
Coastal extension officer Teresa Collander of the TSPS Site Management Unit said she is happy that CEMO invited them to participate in the cleanup drive. She said waste segregation and information education campaigns are crucial in promoting change in people’s behavior on the proper disposal of garbage. | SCC PIO photos
