Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, SMC President Ramon Ang, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and Mayor John Rey Tiangco pose for a photo after the MOA signing.
Photo by Edd Reyes
Navotas signs MOA for river cleanup
MAYOR John Rey Tiangco, together with Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and San Miguel Corporation (SMC) President Ramon Ang, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to reduce pollution in Navotas River through Adopt-a-River Program.
“Almost 70 percent of our population rely on fishing and other related industries as their main source of income. Thus, it is imperative for us to improve the quality and condition of the waters that surround us,” Tiangco said.
“Our ultimate goal is to restore the waters surrounding Navotas to a classification fit for fishing, swimming, and other recreational water activities. Hence, we fully support the Adopt-a-River Program to clean up and rejuvenate our bodies of water,” he added.
Under the MOA, Navotas will take the lead in removing obstructions along the river channels in the city, and issue necessary permits and approvals to ensure unimpeded dredging activities and implementation of the program.
The SMC, on the other hand, will provide funding for all required equipment and its operation costs, as well as manpower support to complete the project. They will also provide other engineering solutions such as trash trap installation, rechanneling of rivers, and other environmental measures.
Meanwhile, the DENR and DPWH will provide the technical expertise for the project including the preparation and approval of appropriate Detailed Engineering Design.
The Adopt-a-River program also intends to mitigate flooding by deepening and widening the shallow and narrow portions of Navotas waterbodies. The agreement is effective for five years.
