Creek clean-up yields 2.8 MT of garbage
Some 400 volunteers recently gathered 2.8 metric tons of garbage along Luknay Creek in San Fernando during another round of clean-up at the waterway.
The quarterly activity jointly organized by Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Inc. (TCPI) and Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC) came timely as rains caused rivers to overflow and some knee-high flooding elsewhere in Cebu.
“We must have prevented this in South Poblacion and adjacent coastal barangays as the cascading waters from the heavy rains flowing downhill rushed through the seas freely as obstructions have been cleared,” quipped Dwight P. Avila, environment and safety officer.
TCPI and SEDC have been taking the lead in cleaning up the vital Luknay Creek in Barangay South Poblacion since both companies adopted it seven years ago with a commitment to maintain its upkeep.
From an annual undertaking as part of the “Save Our Seas” and “Adopt An Estero” campaigns, it has become a quarterly endeavor since March last year that had DENR/EMB-7 environment management specialist Kristine Jynel Pages as an active participant.
PTCPI maintenance chief Rodulfo B. Abellanosa welcomed the volunteers at the TCPI multipurpose recreation center. They included Luknay residents, LGU personnel and TCPI-SEDC employees who got free shirts and cleaning paraphernalia.
TCPI SVP and plant manager Seiichi Nakamura underscored the value in both protecting and keeping the balance of the environment as he thanked the participants, especially the residents, in taking an active role in the program.
South Poblacion barangay captain Dioscoro A. Esbra commended TCPI and SEDC for being consistent with their initiative. “Nagpasalamat jud ko og dako sa TCPI ug SEDC nga ningtabang sa barangay,” he said.
On behalf of the mayor, LGU representative Felipe Pariño challenged Luknay residents to be serious in keeping the creek clean by not throwing plastics into the river that as these would be carried to the sea and harm marine life.