Some 42 barangays will converge for the massive simultaneous Tullahan-Tinajeros River System clean up on March 31, 2019 in support to the Battle for Manila Bay being spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Captains in these 42 barangays in the cities of Quezon, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon and Navotas are also set to ink a memoranda of agreement with the DENR, dubbed as Kasunduan.

The agreement underscores the barangays’ commitment to help improve water quality, proper management of solid wastes, including the promotion of waste reduction, reuse and recycling, partnership in community mobilization, and in information and education campaigns for water quality and solid waste management, habitat restoration, climate and disaster resiliency.

Simultaneous river, creek, estero and waterwaysclean up will be conducted by all barangays covering the Tullahan-Tinajeros river system including private sector partners and other national government agencies supporting the rehabilitation of these creeks.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said that the rehabilitation of this very important river system will positively affect efforts to clean up Manila Bay.

“These creeks are key tributaries that discharge their wastes to Manila Bay. By ensuring that wastes from both Tullahan and Tinajeros Rivers, and their creeks are addressed, we can expect significant improvement in the Bay’s water quality,” Cimatu said.

The Tullahan- Tinajeros River System spans 27 kilometers, from La Mesa Water Reservoir in Fairview, Quezon City, all the way to the mouth of Manila Bay at Centennial Park in Navotas City. It is one of the most polluted waterways in Metro Manila and a major tributary of Manila Bay.

San Miguel Corporation recently pledged assistance for the dredging and clean up of the river. Other private sector partners such as the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Vanson and Boysen Philippines have also pledged continuing support to the rehabilitation of the creeks and tributaries of the Tullahan River.

To draw attention to the campaign, the DENR in partnership with selected local government units and barangays will conduct a community mural painting in strategic locations in Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela, with paint donations from Boysen Philippines, and paint materials from NLEX, March Resources, Vanson, Innovative Packaging, and Amtes Corporation.

The mural painting will feature some drawings made by AG Sano himself, a renowned mural artist and climate change advocate, and volunteer artists from the group, Art Attack.

Sano said that the mural paintings will remind and inspire the public on the importance of the rehabilitation efforts being conducted in various waterways in Metro Manila.

The aforecited simultaneous clean up of the creeks and tributaries in the Tullahan-Tinajeros River System is a joint partnership of the DENR with other national government agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government with selected cities and barangays, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metro Manila Development Authority, the private sector, the schools and civil society organizations.###