The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has gained another 40 new partners for its “Adopt-an-Estero/Water Body Program,” a multi-sectoral partnership aimed at restoring the environmental quality of creeks and rivers in the country.
According to DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje, the program continues to bring in fruitful collaboration not just with the private sector but also with barangays and estero communities in cleaning up their rivers and creeks. “We are sincerely grateful to our private sector and local government partners for committing to restore heavily polluted water bodies in the region. We look forward to bringing in more companies like you to ensure the success of this program,” he said.
The newest set of partners signed their respective Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) during the 25th anniversary celebration of the DENR in Malacanang recently.
Topping the list of adopters is SM Prime Holdings for its plan to help rehabilitate the 10-kilometer stretch of San Juan River, for a partnership of five years.
From industries located in the province of Laguna, the newest adopters are Amkor Technology Philippines, Inc. for Brgy. Malamig Creek (1 kilometer); AP Renewable, Inc. for Tigsa River at Brgy. Calauan (1 kilometer); CMPC and BEVCO Philippines, Inc. for a creek along NIA Road at Brgy. Pulo in Cabuyao (1 kilometer); Filinvest Land. Inc. (Brentville International) for Soro-Soro River (1 kilometer); Filinvest Land, Inc. (Ciudad de Calamba) for Palo-Alto Creek (1 kilometer); and Horizon Land Property Dev’t. Corp., for Carmona River (1 kilometer); James Hardie Philippines, Inc. for San Cristobal River located at Brgy. San Isidro in Cabuyao (1.6 kilometers); LGU- Kalayaan Sanitary Landfill for Subaan River (1 kilometer); Mary Check Trading for San Cristobal River located at Brgy. San Cristobal in Calamba (1 kilometer); Suri Waste Management and Disposal Services for Salang Langka River (1 kilometer); and 3J Foods for San Jose (Malamig Creek (1 kilometer).
The new set of partners in the province of Batangas include Absolut Distillers, Inc. for Palico-Lian River Downstream (0.3 kilometer); Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific of Manila, Inc. for Tabok River (1.5 kilometers); Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc. for a portion of Palico-Lian River (0.5 kilometer); Consolidated Distillers of the Far East, Inc. for a portion of Palico-Lian River (0.5 kilometer); First Gas Power Corp. for Cabubulag River (1.75 kilometers); and KEPCO Ilijan Power Corp. and the Government of Batangas City for Maunat River (3.0 kilometers); SEM Calaca Power Corp. for Dacanalo and Cawong River (1.5 kilometers); and South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. for Sinisian River (1 kilometer).
From the province of Cavite, the new river clean up advocate include ANTEL Holdings, Inc. for Rio-Grande River (0.777 kilometer); Cleanway Technology Corp. for Labuyo Creek (0.1 kilometer); Clean Echo Techwin, Inc. for 426 Samaka River Site Creek (0.1 kilometer); and First Cavite Industrial Estate Assn., Inc. for Ylang-Ylang River (1.8 kilometers); Integrated Waste Management, Inc. for Sahing River (0.191 kilometer); JETTI Petroleum, Inc. who will be adopting Ibayo Estacion Creek (1 kilometer); Jorm Trading Corp. for Cañas River (.075 kilometer); Majestic Landscape Corp. for Maalimango River (1 kilometer); RMM Trading and Waste Management Services for Brgy. San Miguel 2 Creek (1 kilometer); and Solvtech Consultancy Resources for a portion of Labuyo Creek (1 kilometer).
From Rizal, those who have adopted are Cathay Pacific Steel Corp. for Buli Creek in Cainta, Rizal (1 kilometer); Hardrock Aggregates, Inc. for Kay-Bitbit River in Antipolo City, Rizal (0.4 kilometer); the Local Government of Antipolo for Dimanlig Creek (1.05 kilometers), Malanim Creek (1.72 kilometers), Tabak Creek (1.58 kilometers) and Linapao Creek (3.7 kilometers); Pacific Concrete Products, Inc. for Wawa River in Rodriguez, Rizal (0.3 kilometer); and Rapid City Realty and Development Corp. for Kay-Bagsik/Kay Langho Creek in Antipolo City, Rizal (1 kilometer).
Completing the list of partners are the City of Urdaneta, Pangasinan for Macalong River (10 kilometers); and from the mining sector are members of Philippine Mine Safety and Environmental Association (PMSEA) namely, Holcim, Marc Ventures, Teresa Marble, and Vulcan Mining.
As agreed by the private partners, the waterways identified will serve as pilot areas for introducing engineering interventions along with immediate surface clean-up solutions to help improve the condition of each creek.
The DENR through the EMB Regional offices, and/or the Laguna Lake Development Authority, as may be appropriate, on the other hand, will intensify monitoring of industrial/commercial establishments, and undertake, among others, regular water quality monitoring and provide the necessary technical assistance to concerned leaders and stakeholder groups in the area.
Launched in 2010, the Adopt-an-Estero/Water Body Program has drawn together a total of 315 partners from the private sector and the local government.
