Cebu City, Mandaue to clean Mahiga Creek

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has welcomed the manifestation of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to join Cebu City’s efforts in cleaning the Mahiga River, which runs through Cebu City and Mandaue.

“We will be relentless in our pursuit to have our waterways being cleaned,” Labella said.

The Office of the City Administrator has issued a memorandum for all employees of the Cebu City government to participate in the massive clean-up of Mahiga River today.

Call time for the employees and volunteers will be at 5 a.m. and the cleanup will end at 10 a.m.

There are 11 stations for the cleanup: Sitio Mayupay Tree along Lower Mahiga in Barangay Banilad, Banilad Basketball court, Mahiga Bridge at Gov. Cuenco Avenue, Coast Pacific Road in Barangay Kasambagan, F. Cabahug Bridge, Subangdaku Bridge, San Isidro Basketball Court, Urot Bridge Mabolo National High School, Abattoir Bridge, M. Logarta Bridge beside SM Hypermart, and CPA Bridge.

Atty. John Jigo Dacua, head of the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said his office has requested the Bantay Dagat Commission to deploy at least two pump boats during the clean-up since there are deep portions at the river.

“Naghimo pod mi sa CENRO og lima ka floaters para masakyan sa mga manguha sa basura kay naay portion sa river nga lawom na gyud (We at CENRO also made floaters that garbage collectors can ride on especially at the deep portions of the river),” he told The FREEMAN.

Last month, the city collected at least 21,000 kilos of garbage from the Guadalupe River. The clean-up had eight stations: Sandayong Bridge, Haarlemmermeer City Bridge, M. Velez Bridge, B. Rodriguez Bridge, P. Del Rosario Bridge, Guadalupe Bridge, Sanciangko Bridge, and Topaz Bridge.

The current administration has vowed massive cleanup of waterways to prevent flooding. —  JMO (FREEMAN)