ILOILO City – From 26 coastal barangays, volunteers were able to gather 17,991 kilos of trash in the recent massive cleanup drive dubbed “One Time, Big Time.”
The trash included the following:
* plastics (bags, bottles, sachets)
* coconut tree trunks
* dead animals such as dogs, cats and chickens
* human and animal excreta
According to Engineer Renan Escoto, coastal cleanup program head, the activity made the participants, numbering to about 4,000, realize the need to raise the public’s level of awareness on the importance of solid waste management in coastal areas.
The coastal villages covered by the two-hour cleanup were Sto. Niño Sur, Sto. Niño Norte, Calaparan, Calumpang, San Juan, Boulevard, South Baluarte, North Baluarte, Tanza Baybay, Bonifacio Tanza, Rizal Estanzuela, Pala-Pala 1, Pala-Pala II, Rima Rizal, RIzal Ibarra, Maria Clara, Ortiz, Gen. Hughes, Veterans, Bo. Obrero, Mansaya, Loboc, Ingore, Hinactacan, Balabago, and Bito-on.
In some of these villages, the cleanup was a challenge. Escoto said garbage under stilt houses (with mostly no sanitary toilets) were difficult to collect as they were stuck in inaccessible points.
On the other hand, huge floating coconut tree trunks proved too heavy; chainsaw was used to cut them up first.
Escoto came up with following recommendations after the March 30 cleanup:
* undertake further intensive information education campaign on solid waste management
* barangay officials have to be made aware of their accountabilities related to coastal cleanliness and sanitation
* multi-sectorial involvement in preparing the city’s integrated coastal resources management plan
* organize and institutionalize a coastal resources management office that shall implement the plan
* update and validate existing data related to the city’s coastal zones/PN
