Massive river clean-up drive kicks off

LINGAYEN --- The provincial government has intensified its commitment to protect and preserve the environment by implementing a massive clean-up drive of the river systems of Pangasinan in line with the observance of the National Disaster Consciousness Month.

During the kick off ceremony held last July 19 at the Capitol Plaza, Paterno M. Orduña, Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council Executive Officer, said that pilot areas for the project will include Agno River tributaries within the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos and the municipalities of Binmaley and Lingayen.

The activity is part of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s continuing commitment to save and protect the environment which has been his advocacy even before when he was still a police officer.

“It is not the response or rescue efforts that are important kundi ang mga solusyon upang mapangalagaan natin ang ating kapaligiran,” Orduña said.

Col. Orduña stressed that now is the time for everyone to share in the task of taking care of the environment as he urged everyone to engage in proper practices and set a good example as mitigating measures to solve climate change .

Dagupan City Councilor Bryan Lim who represented his father, Mayor Benjie Lim, affirmed that the clean-up drive is a vital need to keep everyone aware to properly respond to calamities and other forms of disasters.

He also assured the support of the city government of Dagupan in cleaning the rivers.

“Let us make sure that the next generation will not look back at us and say that we didn’t do anything. We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we just borrowed it for our children,” he further said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Rafael F. Baraan called on everyone not just to clean up the rivers but to clean up own lifestyles and reorganize own lives in order to be able to really contribute meaningfully to the global effort, to reduce the continued degradation of the environment to help in the overall effort to make things easier for us especially for our children.

After the ceremony, the member agencies and volunteers proceeded to the town of Binmaley for the river clean-up drive which started with the dismantling of illegal structures.

For the clean-up drive, a dredging machine will be used, Col. Orduna said.

The continuing effort of the provincial government and various line agencies signifies the province’s commitment for a sustainable disaster management programs and environmental concerns.

Among the teams formed for the clean-up drive were: task group “Baklas”; provincial task group “Linis”; PNP Task Group and Task Group “DRAGA”. (PIO/Chona C. Bugayong)