City to require coastal cleanup

A LOCAL environmental group said Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio is crafting an executive order (EO) that will mandate a monthly coastal clean-up to solve the high number of accumulated trash in the city's coastal areas.

In an interview with Interface Development Interventions (Idis) Director Chinkie Pelino-Golle, she said Duterte-Carpio discussed the intention to conduct a monthly coastal cleanup every month with her as the organization has played an active role in helping the government protect the environment.

In the initial plan provided by Duterte-Carpio, Golle said it will be participated by all the barangays near the seashore and river banks in the city every first Monday and last Wednesday of the month.

"The mayor told me that she is aware that our coastal system is polluted already and the easiest way is to engage the participation of the citizens and work together for cleaner waterways," she said.

Bantay Bukids or the River Guards along the Panigan-Tamugan River, will also take active role in the clean-up, focusing on the river as it will be costly on the government to send them to the seashores.

Private sector and concerned individuals are welcomed to join the coastal clean-up.

Golle said the executive order will be out soon, probably within this month or in November, as promised by DuterteCarpio.