Saving the country’s waterways

During the good old days, rivers, creeks and brooks were all sights to behold. They were pictures of serenity and tranquillity then.

Today, not a single river, creek or brook has been spared from pollutants, be it in Metro Manila or the countryside.

People do not seem to care about the present state of our river systems, and calls for environmental protection and conservation are like voices in the wilderness.

But, all is not yet lost if we are to act together now to save the country’s river systems. However, the government cannot do it alone. It needs the support and cooperation of the community if we want a genuine government-initiated program addressing environmental concerns in the country to succeed.

And if there are environmentalist groups which show the desire to restore our creeks and rivers, they include Lagarian Creek Environmental Association Inc. (LACREA) which started its community-based waste management program along the Lagarian Creek River System in Quezon City way back in 1996.

The creek, covering a total catchment area of 118 km., is one of the tributaries of the Pasig River.

LACREA seeks to contribute to the rehabilitation efforts by increasing environmental awareness and participation among community members along the entire stretch of the creek.

Of its total catchment area, only 5.9 sq. km. (5 percent) is considered critical in the rehabilitation of the creek because the population density and concentration of industries in this area have a great impact on the water quality and other environmental aspects.

To date, the association has already made some headway as far as effectively managing community wastes. With the full mobilization of the community and advocacy work, the protection of the Lagarian Creek has become a growing concern of everyone.

Initially, only nine barangays were enlisted to support the rehabilitation of Lagarian Creek. However, efforts were made to reach other sectors of the community to develop an effective community waste management program.

Also, the association has started consolidating its partnership with barangay leaders, national agencies and local government units to assist communities in setting up their respective waste management systems.

Based on the results of the Rapid Urban Appraisal (RUA) activities conducted in 1996, a total of 12 barangays have been identified as potential targets for the creation of Clean River Zones. These barangays are expected to be at the forefront in protecting Lagarian Creek and improving the areas adjacent to it.