Hundreds clean up San Fernando creek

Nearly 200 residents in San Fernando town, southern Cebu gathered recently to clean-up the town’s creek of trash and other obstructions.

Instead of holding the activity in September during the global observance of “Save The Ocean,” organizers chose to do it earlier in anticipation of more rains that may trigger flooding.

Joining them in clearing the Luknay Creek in barangay South Poblacion were 150 employees of Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc. and Solid Earth Development Corp.

Policemen from the Regional Public Safety Battalion and employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local officials also participated in the activity dubbed as “Kalikopan Ko, Limpyohan Ko.”

TCPI operations manager Hiroshi Ohnaga welcomed the participants who gathered at the company’s multi-purpose center and were given souvenir shirts.

Ohnaga underscored the importance of keeping the environment clean to prevent any untoward incidents during heavy downpour.

San Fernando acting Mayor Mikko Canoy cited Taiheiyo for their initiative. Taiheiyo, together with Solid Earth, has been conducting the annual activity for the past six years under the “Save Our Seas” (SOS) banner.

Canoy said SOS complements the town’s effort to address the garbage problem. He revealed plans of the municipal government to buy a property for landfill.

South Poblacion barangay councilor Paterno Esbra also commended Taiheiyo and Solid Earth, and lauded the Luknay residents for getting more involved and more conscious about keeping the creek clean.

Alrealou Castillon of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 also lauded the two companies for entering an agreement with the EMB-7 last year to adopt the Luknay creek in support of the DENR’s Adopt-An-Estero program.

Nilo Yap, Taiheiyo’s head for Corporate Affairs and concurrent manager of the Environment and Safety Department, signed the agreement.