Region-wide cleanup drive nets 1.3 metric tons of trash

Local

MORE than 1.3 metric tons of trash were hauled from rivers and waterways across Central Visayas during a simultaneous cleanup drive in celebration of World Environment Day on Thursday, June 5.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Central Visayas (DENR-7) led the region-wide effort, which mobilized hundreds of volunteers from Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bohol.

Most of the collected waste was plastic, highlighting the widespread issue of plastic pollution in local water systems.

In Cebu City, 142 volunteers cleared 713 kilograms of trash packed into 111 sacks along the Lahug River, with plastic items making up the majority.

The activity was part of the DENR 7’s “Rivers for Life” campaign, which aims to reduce plastic pollution at its source.

In Negros Oriental, cleanup efforts in Tayasan town’s Tibyawan River yielded 142 kilograms of waste.

In Dumaguete City, another major cleanup was conducted along Banica River, accompanied by the planting of 500 miagos (Erythrina variegata) seedlings and the installation of a trash trap to prevent further pollution.

Siquijor volunteers led by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office collected 201 kilograms of garbage from the Datag River.

The waste included construction debris and cigarette butts. Meanwhile, in Bohol, 51 kilograms of waste were retrieved from the Abatan River by 142 volunteers in a joint effort with the Abatan River Development Management Council.

DENR 7 Director Paquito Melicor Jr., during a June 4 forum, underscored the need to address the proliferation of single-use plastics.

He encouraged communities to adopt zero-waste lifestyles and continue monitoring waterways even beyond World Environment Day activities.

Melicor also emphasized the “Love Our Earth Program,” which promotes the collection and repurposing of single-use plastics into construction materials such as pavement bricks and hollow blocks through recycling facilities like the one in Toledo City.

Aside from the June 5 cleanup, DENR 7 has lined up additional environmental activities, including coastal cleanups in Cebu’s South Road Properties on June 7 for World Oceans Day and Coral Triangle Day.

Tree planting and maintenance events are also scheduled in Balamban and Minglanilla towns later this month.(MyTVCebu)