Paz, Jonas lead clean-up drive

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes led 2,000 city hall and national government agency employees in a clean-up operation yesterday following flashfloods spawned Thursday by tropical storm "Mario". In Lapu-Lapu, Mayor Paz Radaza marked International Clean-up by leading city hall employees, the police, students from public schools, and representatives from the private sector in cleaning up coastal barangays.

The floods inundated at least eight barangays, dropping off trash in all directions.

After five hours of work, Cortes' group had filled hundreds of sacks with trash, most of it coming from creeks and the Butuanon River in barangay Maguikay.

With the mayor's group were city administrator James Abadia, barangay Maguikay captain Francis Tan, other department heads, and boy and girl scouts from public schools.

Other groups went to Mahiga Creek, Tipolo Creek, and Jagobiao Creek to also gather objects made of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials.

Cortes said the city is the recipient of water from Cebu city, and is urging DPWH offices in Cebu and Mandaue to sit down with city officials and talk about solving the flooding.

He also urged ABC president Ernie Manatad who chairs the committee on environment in the city council to work on the problem.

"Our upland areas are already denuded and the construction of gabion dams can minimize run-off water from rushing down to the cities," Cortes said.

Yesterday's activity was also part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' clean-up drive in celebration of "International Coastal Clean-up" with a theme "Our Planet Our Responsibility."

Radaza in her speech said the National International Coastal Clean-up day was adopted by Lapu-Lapu City in 2006 yet through a resolution as an official activity in partnership with the private sector for the protection, conservation, and rehabilitation of its coastal environment.

Radaza said the annual clean-up activity has been a big help in boosting the city's tourism.

"Kining atong tinuig nga buhaton sa pagpanglimpyo sa atong kadagatan dako kini nga tabang alang sa atong turismo.

Ang atong siyudad naila sa atong mga maanindot nga kadagatan, sa atong mga nindot nga dive spots.

Daghang mga turista nga ganahan moanhi aron lang mobisita sa atong mga nindot nga beaches and resorts.

Mao nga angayan lang nga ato kining atimanon pinaagi sa pagpanglimpyo niini," Radaza said.

Radaza said the Lapu-Lapu City council has adopted a resolution making International Clean-Up every September 20 as an official activity in partnership with the private sector, for the protection, conservation and rehabilitation of its coastal environment.

The activity has two components, the coastal or beach clean-up and underwater clean-up or subasuero.

"This coastal clean-up is celebrated not only in the Philippines. This is celebrated worldwide which means thousands of others like you around the world who are environment protector are also bringing with them cleaning gears to clean up their coastal areas and seas," Radaza said.

The Lapu-Lapu City mayor said the yearly coastal clean-up in the city is a big help to potect the city's marine resources.

Radaza said that the city's new brand will differentiate it from other cities saying this will promote Lapu-Lapu and be known not just here in the country but to the world as well.

Coastal barangays in Lapu-Lapu City through their respective barangay captains and officials also joined the whole clean up yesterday. (FREEMAN)