Thousands join Angeles massive clean-up drive

ANGELES CITY - The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), launched a city-wide clean-up drive in a bid to intensify the city’s waste management campaign on Wednesday.

The project, which coincided with the celebration of the World Water Day, aims to raise awareness on proper waste management and to clear the city’s river channels of wastes that pollute the water.

The clean-up drive is in compliance of the mandamus of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Project which aims to enforce waste management programs that will aide on the cleaning of the waterways.

Focal areas for the said clean-up drive include rivers and creeks located under the Abacan bridge, Friendship bridge, Hensonville bridge, Pandan-Pulung Maragul bridge, San Nicolas bridge, Plaridel bridge, Sto. Entierro bridge, Lakandula bridge, San Jose bridge, and the Pulungbulu bridge.

“The project is a manifestation that the city government is consistent with its efforts in creating a greener and cleaner city. I firmly believe that a clean city is a progressive city,

as this reflects how the people here in Angeles take care of the environment,” Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan sai d.

“This clean-up drive will not only benefit the city but also our neighboring provinces and cities since all our creeks and river channels are interconnected,” Pamintuan added.

According to the Officer-in-Charge of CENRO, Ederlinda Valencia, around 2,000 individuals from the public and private sectors participated in the said clean up advocacy which included representatives from the 33 barangays and corporate companies.

Actively participating in the activity are the barangay officials of Angeles City who have organized their own clean-up drives in their respective barangays, various transport groups, and organizations including PASADA and FEDTODA members who have made their contribution by cleaning the surrounding areas of their jeepney and tricycle terminals.

“We are extending all our efforts and available means for programs that will make us achieve a clean and green Angeles City. With CENRO at the helm, we vow to support the nationwide campaign of cleaning our waters which will give our people and the future generation a clean environment and a safe water to drink,” Valencia sai d.

The city wide clean-up drive is a part of the Angeles Malinis 365 Campaign of CENRO and is also a major component of Pamintuan’s Contract with the Angelenos that is focused on the protection of the environment and raising awareness among the people of Angeles City.

Also, as part of the city government’s program on environmental sustainability, Pamintuan recently forged a joint venture agreement with the SURE Global Waste to Worth Innovations (W2WI) for the establishment of the first Waste 2 Worth facility in the Philippines.

The facility will convert waste materials from the community into a reliable source of energy. The plant is seen to cut down the expenses of the city on garbage disposal.

Participating government-owned and controlled corporations, and agencies include the Department of the Interior and Local Government - Angeles City (DILGAngeles), Environmental Management Bureau- Region 3, Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Angeles City Water District.

Private counterparts include the association of Market vendors from Pampang and San Nicolas, the Landbank of the Philippines, Friends of Ed, Balibago Waterworks, Teresa Waterworks, Soliman Septic Tank Services, Jollibee Angeles and Balibago Group, Nepo Group of Commercial Center, SOGO Hotel, St. Catherine Realty Corporation, SM City Clark, Park Inn Hotel, PHI BETA RHO, and MHT Trading.

Civic groups from the women, transport, and urban poor sector and even the muslim community in the city expressed support by participating in this clean-up advocacy.— AC-CIO