DENR’S Gawad Taga-ilog boosts tie up with LGUS, communities to save rivers, esteros

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is strengthening its partnership with local government units (LGUS) and communities to help save rivers and esteros.

The DENR, the agency mandated to manage the country’s natural wealth, is implementing the annual Gawad Taga-ilog: Search for the Most Improved Estero in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The award seeks to recognize the most improved esteros or waterways in Metro Manila, and to honor their barangays for the effort in maintaining them clean and trash-free.

On a broader scope, the Gawad Taga-ilog or GTI initiative, which is now on its third year, taps LGUS and communities into the greater goal of rehabilitating Manila Bay.

During its launch last month, DENR OIC Assistant Secretary for Field Operations - Luzon and Visayas Gilbert C. Gonzales said although significant accomplishments were achieved ever since the 2019 launch for the Battle for Manila Bay, challenges in domestic sewage remain.

“As much as we want to improve the water quality in Manila Bay, it has to start from the source. Collaboration, especially with the LGUS, is necessary so we can work together and improve the water quality of Manila Bay,” said Gonzales.

For the GTI contest, LGUS will nominate their chosen estero or waterway within their jurisdiction. Nominees will be judged according to the LGUS’ management of their solid and liquid waste, informal settler families and illegal structures, habitat and resources, and sustainability and partnership.

The search will run from November 2022 to February 2023 and awarding will be in March 2023, to coincide with World Water Day.

Recognizing the exemplary accomplishments of some LGUS in the past years, Gonzales said GTI is DENR’S “simple way of thanking them for helping the agency improve the conditions of our environment and making communities more livable and safer.”

GTI also aims to encourage Metro Manila residents to adopt a sense of ownership and a positive mindset towards their responsibility to maintain clean waterways.

Apart from GTI, sustainable efforts of the DENR in supporting LGUS and communities include Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) activities for the communities and the Dalaw Turo program for the youth.

Meanwhile, DENR-NCR Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan announced that the GTI would include a new category this year called Hall of Fame—or “winner among the winners”—where the DENR-NCR will choose among the past winners and see if cleanliness were sustained and maintained by the respective bar an gays.