Sunday, July 20, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
The city governments of Caloocan and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan are working together to revive the 55-kilometer Marilao-Meycuayan-Obando (MMO) River, which a 2007 study by the US-based Black Smith Institute described as the dirtiest flowing body of water in Southeast Asia.
The MMO River, which cuts through the cities of Caloocan, Valenzuela and Malabon in Metro Manila and San Jose del Monte, Meycauayan, Marilao, Obando and Sta. Maria in Bulacan, was also declared as among the 30 dirtiest rivers in the world last year.
Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri said some 1,500 volunteers are working under “Oplan Linis Ilog” in order to help unclog the river of pollutants and other forms of domestic waste.
The volunteers include those from seven barangays in San Jose del Monte.
Echiverri said the Environmental Sanitation Services (ESS) office led Barangays 176, 181, 184, 185, 186, and 188 of Caloocan in teaming-up with provincial government volunteers for the initiative.
He explained that Caloocan has to look after its portion of the Caloocan-Marilao boundary from Barangay 176 in Bagong Silang, which flows into the MMO River.
During the initial clean-up activity, Echiverri said Caloocan was able to collect at least 1,820 bags of solid and domestic waste from its area of responsibility.
“This is just the kickoff of the program. Caloocan will continue to assist San Jose del Monte, Bulacan in cleaning the waterway that borders both areas,” he assured.
“We hope that with our combined efforts and support from the residents nearby, the Marilao-Meycuayan-Obando River would be excluded from the list of dirtiest rivers,” he added.
ESS chief Alfonso Sta. Maria said they are planning to put up sanitary outposts in critical areas that are favorite dumping grounds of undisciplined residents.
He added that they would also assign trained enforcers who will monitor and apprehend individuals caught throwing garbage into the river. – Michael Punongbayan, Pete Laude
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