MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has launched a new award that recognizes efforts to save rivers from pollution and other threats.
Dubbed as Recognizing Individuals/Institutions towards Vibrant and Enhanced Rivers (RIVERs) for Life, the award will honor Philippine community and provincial environment and natural resources officers who effectively implement in their respective areas of responsibility environmental laws and the agency’s initiatives to protect rivers.
“Through the award, we hope to give life to rivers and revitalize them,” DENR undersecretary Jonas Leones said at the award’s launch on Wednesday.
Leones called for action to revitalize rivers, noting that pollutants from agricultural, domestic and industrial activities end up contaminating rivers.
He said the RIVERs for Life award will help inspire further protection and conservation action for rivers as it also increases public awareness.
“Rivers and their tributaries are the lifeblood of Earth. We want to encourage people to look after and sustainably manage them,” he added.
The country has 421 principal rivers aside from smaller rivers, DENR data showed.
Agricultural run-off from farms, household sewage and industries’ untreated wastewater reach rivers and pollute them, jeopardizing the condition and capability to provide food, Leones said.
“Our vision for pollution-challenged rivers is to be clean and healthy, for dead rivers to live and breathe,” he stressed.
The nationwide search for the first batch of awardees will be conducted from July to December and will be on a semi-annual basis.
Among the criteria for selecting the awardees are river water quality improvement interventions and information and education initiatives for environmental conservation.
Leones said the DENR targets to award the winners during the agency’s 2019 New Year’s call. (With a report from PNA/PN)
