DENR leads exhibit for waste mgmt
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) set up an exhibit as part of its campaign under the Gawad Taga-Ilog Roadshow in Marikina to showcase the city’s sustainable solid waste management that keeps its waterways clean and garbage-free.
Aside from the exhibit, the DENR conducted a short program, and distributed promotional materials at the Marikina City Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.
The Gawad Taga-Ilog (GTI) Roadshow 2023 is a DENR promotional activity that showcases vital information about their popular contest, the Gawad Taga-Ilog, along with supporting visuals.
It is an annual search for Metro Manila barangays with the best estero, as determined by a set of criteria.
Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” R. Teodoro vowed to sustain all their best practices in solid waste management and further improve the support of the local government unit (LGU) to such programs.
“Our rivers, symbols of life and prosperity, have faced severe degradation due to pollution and neglect,” he added.
Mayor Teodoro said that, as responsible citizens, it is the duty of all to restore and preserve these valuable resources for future generations.
According to the mayor, Marikina City has always worked with sustainability in mind.
“Aligning with DENR’s initiatives is crucial for sustainable planning and setting informed environmental goals,” Mayor Teodoro said.
“Partnership management and cooperation at all levels, from local communities to government agencies, industries, and NGOs, are essential in pooling resources, expertise, and ideas to come up with an effective collaborative output.”
Mayor Teodoro noted that healthy rivers support agriculture, tourism, and public health by providing clean water for the public’s use.
“River rehabilitation demands our collective effort. Marikina stands with all those who protect the lifeblood of our land —our river—which nourishes our past, present and future,” he ended.
To recall, Marikina City has been awarded by the DENR for three consecutive years—Park Creek 22 in Barangay Marikina Heights bagged 1st runner up in 2021; Park Creek 23 in Barangay Marikina Heights won 2nd runner up in 2022; and in 2023, Concepcion Creek in Barangay Concepcion Uno clinched 2nd runner up and the barangay was hailed a champion of solid waste management.
The Gawad Taga-Ilog (GTI), which began in 2020, is a nomination-based search for the best improved estero or waterways in Metro Manila barangays.
It assesses not only the outward characteristics of the waterways, but also the LGU-initiated measures that improve and sustain water quality.
The prize also emphasizes management initiatives sponsored by local governments to ensure the long-term viability of projects centered on river cleanliness.
Engineer Oliver Villamena, head of Marikina’s City Environmental Management Office (CEMO), said the GTI is a pioneering program of the environment department that supports the ongoing clean-up and rehabilitation of Manila Bay.
