DENR Region XI

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito L. Atienza will spearhead on Saturday (September 20) this year’s International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) activity at the shorelines of Barangay Hizon, Davao City at exactly 7:00 o’clock in the morning.

The Secretary will be joined by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.
With this years theme “Daluyang Tubig at Baybaying Inalagaan, Ating Buhay” DENR together with partners GOs, NGOs, LGUs and the academe will clean up coastal areas and waterways (esteros) nationwide to avoid flooding during rainy season due to garbage clogged waterways especially in urban areas.

The coastal and waterways clean-up are initiatives embodied in Presidential Proclamation No. 244 issued by then President Fidel V. Ramos declaring September of every year as National Clean-Up Month. This was reinforced further by Presidential Proclamation No. 470 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declaring every third Saturday of September as International Coastal Clean-Up Day.

These initiative aims to raise the importance of translating environmental protection into concrete actions by educating communities situated along the water bodies on the adverse effects of improper waste disposal; mobilize communities and all other sectors of the society to execute a massive one day clean-up of the water bodies within their jurisdiction and to empower communities by assisting them in the continuous monitoring and preservation of the improved conditions of the water bodies through the proper implementation of Ecological Solid Waste Management.
Cognizant to Presidential Proclamation 470, the City Government of Davao crafted City Executive Order No. 13 creating “Task Force Limpyo Baybay” for the sustainable clean-up of the coastal areas and riverbanks of Davao City. The task force is viewed as a necessary mechanism that will harmonize and consolidate the programs, projects and activities of the different sectors of the city for a more effective and efficient intervention.

After the coastal clean-up, Secretary Atienza will meet Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla, D.D. before proceeding to the launching of Regional People’s Hour (RPH) at Green Height Business and Convention Center, Diversion Road, Buhangin, Davao City at 9:00 o’clock to 12:00 noon.

Atienza will meet stakeholders during the RPH to personally listen to their woes and act on them immediately.

He is also expected to distribute about 102 land patents covering an area of 156.1410 hectares to bonafide beneficiaries.

The RPH is part of DENR’s strategy in bringing the government closer to the people. (Bing Sison, DENR-PR)