Tinago Riverside Promenade: From eyesore to attraction

CEBU, Philippines - For the past several years, the Tinago Creek in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City has become an eyesore with all the garbage that have accumula-ted and the informal settlers that have made their homes along its banks.

But the ugly picture of a dying body of water that has been reduced to just a drainage ditch has been transformed into an attraction and recreational activity area for the residents of the barangay.

All it took was political will.

Transformation

Former Tinago barangay captain and now Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera took it as a challenge to transform the 115-meter long Tinago Creek into a place of beauty when he was asked by former mayor Michael Rama to lead the city's Reduce Danger Zone (ReDZ) in June 2015.

Garganera said the task of beautifying the creek's surroundings and at the same time saving it from garbage accumulation and siltation was not easy, especially since many people, including some of his constituents in the barangay, thought it was impossible.

The former barangay chief admitted he did not know where to start and thought of just doing a clean up in the area.

Knowing that the creek was once part of a river system in the city, Garganera started his "transformation" work by doing research.  This proved to be helpful because the information he got egged him to push through despite the skeptics.

The Tinago Creek, Garganera found, was once a wide waterway that was part of the 1.5- kilometer Estero de Parian, a passageway for small boats that Chinese traders used to transport goods from the port to different areas in old Cebu during the 16th century.

The idea of restoring the creek into what it was during height of the Chinese trade in the 16th century, a contributor to the economic activities in the old Cebu, fueled Garganera's enthusiasm on the project, which he named Tinago Riverside Promenade Project.

To get guidance on how to go about the project, the former barangay official sought the help of government agencies, as well as non-government organizations that focus on environmental protection.

Work started on the banks. To establish the mandated three-meter easement, the barangay asked informal settlers to move back but Garganera admitted these settlers have to be relocated to sustain the project.

Desilting, dredging and clearing the creek of garbage also had to be done because the waterway had become dirty, narrow and shallow.

Garganera said the barangay, through the help of the Movement for a Livable Cebu, was the first recipient of a bioremediation technology called Hatake Sewage Waste Active Treatment of SWAT balls to get rid of the putrid smell of water. The SWAT ball, manufactured by the Hatake Harvest Philippines Inc., introduces good bacteria into the water to remove the stench.

Garganera said the state of the water in the creek should be addressed first because garbage and foul odor would defeat the purpose of constructing a promenade in the area.

The construction of the promenade was a challenge because the barangay did not have funds for it. But, Garganera found out that the Department of Public Works and Highways had a road project near the area.

"I asked the contractors of DPWH-7 to help me and I was so elated after they agreed and contributed for this project. Various private contractors of DPWH have helped me put up this promenade, that is why I am so thankful," Garganera said.

DPWH contractors shouldered the different phases of the project like the concreting of the walkway on the riverbank, the putting up of fences and plants, among others.

In a period of a little over three months, the eyesore was transformed into a place of beauty. Garganera could not believe that little contributions from different organizations converted the dirty Tinago Creek into a beautiful area where barangay residents could spend lazy afternoons in.

"This project is a showcase. It is what we should do to rehabilitate our rivers and at the same time address flooding in the city," he said.

With the promenade in place, the next challenge now, Garganera said, is to rekindle the economic activity in the area. Included in the plans to bring business into the area is the establishment of a cruise, restaurants and coffee shops. Aside from being a place for barangay residents to relax, skate, walk or jog, the promenade can also be used as an alternative road for motorists coming from the city's Pier 3.

Keeping the area clean

Susan Belong, 46, who has been living in the area for 20 years already, said that with the construction of the promenade, all the residents in the area, including informal settlers who have yet to be relocated, should do their share to keep it clean.

"I have been cleaning my surroundings even before the beautification project was done. And now that it is here, I'm willing to cooperate with the government to sustain its beauty," she said in Cebuano.

Belong said the water in the creek becomes dirty because some residents throw human waste there. To stop this practice, she is asking the city government to put up communal toilets in the area.

Marites Tuguran, 50, a resident of the barangay for 47 years already, said this project will teach residents discipline. Tuguran said she appreciated the effort of the barangay to beautify the area even if some residents are still living in tents after their houses were destroyed by fire over a year ago.

"We are very happy now because we can have other activities along our clean river," she added.

 Former Cebu City councilor Ma. Nida Cabrera, the chairwoman of the City Council's committee on environment, said the beautification of the promenade can be a good contribution to the environment if the residents will make it an effort to maintain the cleanliness of the water.

  Marc Canton, co-convenor of Movement for a Livable Cebu, lauded the efforts of Garganera for initiating the change.

  "I think former  captain  Garganera has done a terrific job of improving the Estero de Parian in Tinago," he said, adding that the project is actually three projects in one — waterways clean up, the construction of the promenade, and restoring a heritage site.

"This is a good test for us on how we can clean all of our waterways in Cebu because it is small. Cleaning it will take a few steps using proven techniques, materials and know how," Canton said, but added that it will take three to four years to completely clean the estuary.

"The nice promenade that Captain Garganera built will also be a draw for the local residents allowing them to walk or bike around in relative comfort and safety. Finally, the key project of restoring our heritage sites will also benefit from this little area, specifically affording people the space for walking and/or biking, an impactful boost to our urban mobility problems," he added.

Canton asked the residents to help in sustaining the project, adding that the city government, civil society and private sectors should also be involved. (FREEMAN)