(SALUTATIONS)

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES HAS BEEN CONSISTENT WITH ITS EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN THE COUNTRY. IN FACT, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IS AMONG THE PRIORITY PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRYMEN AND ACT WITH URGENCY. THIS IS THE VERY REASON WHY DENR HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY PUSHING FOR SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS AND FORGING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LIKE THE DOST.

EMB-NCR PROPOSED FOR THE MALABON-NAVOTAS-TULLAHAN-TINAJEROS PROJECT OR MANATUTI RIVER SYSTEM TO BE DESIGNATED AS A WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AREA PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 OF R.A. 9275.

THIS PROJECT WAS AIMED AT PREVENTING THE FURTHER DETERIORATION OF ALL WATER BODIES IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, INCLUDING RIVERS, ESTEROS, AND CREEKS.

MOST OF THE RIVERS HAVE BECOME STAGNANT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH VOLUME OF SILT, WASTE, AND OTHER DEBRIS. THIS PROBLEM THREATENS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES METRO MANILA.

TO ADDRESS THIS, EMB-NCR, DOST-NCR, AND DOST-MIRDC CAME UP WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRASH RAKE PROJECT. CONGRATULATIONS!

AUTOMATIC TRASH RAKE WAS DESIGNED AS AN ALTERNATIVE MEASURE TO IMPROVE FLOOD CONTROL OPERATION THROUGH BETTER TRASH COLLECTION RATE WITH THE CAPABILITY OF LIFTING LARGE-SIZED TRASH ALONG CREEKS AND DECLOG DRAINAGE SYSTEMS.

THIS COLLABORATION IS GROUNDED ON A GENUINE SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP, WHERE ALL PARTIES AGREE TO COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER’S EFFORTS AND EMBRACE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHER PARTNERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DOST, FOR THIS CONTRIBUTION.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT THROUGH OUR INTEGRATED EFFORTS, WE CAN MAKE A LASTING CONTRIBUTION TO ADDRESSING DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF GENERATIONS TO COME NOT ONLY HERE IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION BUT IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

MOVING FORWARD, I HOPE THAT LGU MALABON, EVEN WITH THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION, WILL SUSTAIN THIS PROJECT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, ESPECIALLY RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE ESTEROS.

LET ME CONCLUDE BY THANKING ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY HONORABLE SECRETARY DE LA PEÑA OF DOST FOR THE ROLES YOU HAVE PLAYED IN MAKING THIS JOINT PROJECT A SUCCESS.

MARAMING SALAMAT PO AT MABUHAY!