By : Troy Gallardo
[ journal.com.ph ] April 10, 2008
“Is there no hope?”
Bgy. Saog Chairman Froilan Angeles asked in despair barely two months after the launching of a project aimed at saving the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System which has caused shame and infamy to the Philippines when it was named one of the 10 dirtiest rivers in the world.
Angeles, one of the local officials headed by Bulacan Gov. Jon-jon Mendoza who attended the launching in February, reacted after seeing tons of garbage in a dam located in Prenza II, Marilao, Bulacan, that could spill into the already polluted river system anytime now.
The much-hyped launching, spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local government units in Bulacan, was seen as a prelude to rehabilitate the river. It declared the river system as a water quality management area, where studies on water quality and extent of the rehabilitation work shall be conducted.
Mayor Epifanio Guillermo of Marilao was shocked yesterday when he saw the garbage floating in the water in Prenza Dam. Guillermo conducted ocular inspection in the area after learning about the “garbage invasion.”
He said he immediately sent investigative team to determine the source of the garbage which “suddenly appeared in the area.”
The local government unit has been conducting beautification project in the area by turning it into a mini park.
Municipal agriculturist Hilario Francisco said the wastes coming from the other end of the mini-dam that holds water coming from Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, are not only threatening the water system but also endanger several farmlands, which obtain water from the dam. He said they were forced to close the irrigation system supplying water to farmlands because of the extent of the pollution.
On Feb. 20 this year, a multi-sectoral group, headed by the DENR, the local government and some civic organizations visited the Marilao River at the launching of the project.
In his message, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said he wanted to rehabilitate the river, which has been identified by a New York-based environment group as among the 30 dirtiest places in the world.
Earlier this month, residents living near the Marilao River woke up to the stench of a chemical waste floating down the river. Several men, believed to be responsible for the drum of alleged toxic chemicals found in the river, were held for questioning.
Garbage reportedly coming from a relocation site in Bagong Silang finds it way directly into rivers in San Jose del Monte and Meycauauan cities and Marilao especially during high tides and strong rains. Creeks leading to Bulacan carry the wastes.
Household and factory wastes in Bulacan were also being blamed for the deteriorating condition of the river.
Angeles said at least 200 dump trucks are needed to haul the wastes from the dam.
“We have been watching our own people and using all available threats to stop them from polluting our river, but there seems to be no stopping other people from the other end of the dam from disposing their garbage improperly. This is very unfortunate,” Angeles said.
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Bgy. Saog Chairman Froilan Angeles asked in despair barely two months after the launching of a project aimed at saving the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System which has caused shame and infamy to the Philippines when it was named one of the 10 dirtiest rivers in the world.
Angeles, one of the local officials headed by Bulacan Gov. Jon-jon Mendoza who attended the launching in February, reacted after seeing tons of garbage in a dam located in Prenza II, Marilao, Bulacan, that could spill into the already polluted river system anytime now.
The much-hyped launching, spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local government units in Bulacan, was seen as a prelude to rehabilitate the river. It declared the river system as a water quality management area, where studies on water quality and extent of the rehabilitation work shall be conducted.
Mayor Epifanio Guillermo of Marilao was shocked yesterday when he saw the garbage floating in the water in Prenza Dam. Guillermo conducted ocular inspection in the area after learning about the “garbage invasion.”
He said he immediately sent investigative team to determine the source of the garbage which “suddenly appeared in the area.”
The local government unit has been conducting beautification project in the area by turning it into a mini park.
Municipal agriculturist Hilario Francisco said the wastes coming from the other end of the mini-dam that holds water coming from Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, are not only threatening the water system but also endanger several farmlands, which obtain water from the dam. He said they were forced to close the irrigation system supplying water to farmlands because of the extent of the pollution.
On Feb. 20 this year, a multi-sectoral group, headed by the DENR, the local government and some civic organizations visited the Marilao River at the launching of the project.
In his message, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said he wanted to rehabilitate the river, which has been identified by a New York-based environment group as among the 30 dirtiest places in the world.
Earlier this month, residents living near the Marilao River woke up to the stench of a chemical waste floating down the river. Several men, believed to be responsible for the drum of alleged toxic chemicals found in the river, were held for questioning.
Garbage reportedly coming from a relocation site in Bagong Silang finds it way directly into rivers in San Jose del Monte and Meycauauan cities and Marilao especially during high tides and strong rains. Creeks leading to Bulacan carry the wastes.
Household and factory wastes in Bulacan were also being blamed for the deteriorating condition of the river.
Angeles said at least 200 dump trucks are needed to haul the wastes from the dam.
“We have been watching our own people and using all available threats to stop them from polluting our river, but there seems to be no stopping other people from the other end of the dam from disposing their garbage improperly. This is very unfortunate,” Angeles said.
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