The City Environment and Natural Resource Office (CENRO) on Saturday (June 17) conducted a collaborative clean-up drive in Barangay Matina Aplaya in celebration of the Environment Month.

A total of 323 participants, made up of employees from the various offices of the local government as well as volunteers of the Bantay Dagat community organization, participated in the activity. They collected a total of 312 sacks of garbage.

CENRO-Bantay Dagat Team Leader Sarah Delalamon said although the volunteers spend Saturdays cleaning the area, garbage are washed ashore during high tide.

Delalamon said she and her fellow volunteers are grateful for the additional manpower that made the cleanup of the coast a lot faster and easier. However, Delalamon said, to address the waste problem in the area, a more stringent and holistic implementation of the Solid Waste Management Ordinance is sorely needed.

CENRO Development Management Officer Forester Christopher Asibal said Saturday’s city-led cleanup was participated in by all the departments of the local government to show their commitment to sustainability efforts in the city.

Apart from cleanup drives, CENRO will also be celebrating the Environment Month with a tree planting activity in Wines, Baguio District on June 23.

“Di lang sa coastal ta, naa pud tay treeplanting this month,” Delalamon said.

At least 10 personnel from every department of the local government are required to participate in the tree-planting activity. Volunteers are also welcome to join. CIO