33 barangays help clean up Diliman Creek

MANILA, Philippines—Diliman Creek in Quezon City, a major tributary of the Pasig River, is clogged and littered with trash.

When it rains, water spills over from the creek, causing floods in the nearby residential areas.

To stop the further degradation of the creek, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the local government of Quezon City signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Tuesday to clean up the tributary with the help of residents of 33 barangays surrounding it.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the rehabilitation of the creek was part of the agency’s Earth Day celebrations.

“Maintaining clean waterways is a collective priority. The first MOA we signed for Diliman Creek was with the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association. This time, we are strengthening the participation of the barangays surrounding the creek to prevent garbage from clogging the waterway,” Paje said.

Under the MOA, environmental measures will be undertaken at the creek, like holding information and education campaigns, community mobilization activities and training programs for stakeholders.

Paje said local leaders have agreed to stop the dumping of garbage in the creek. They also pledged to participate in the clean up, which will take place every fourth Sunday of the month.

In preparation for the clean up on April 24, the PMSEA will distribute cleaning tools such as gloves, shovels, and other materials to the 33 barangays

The clean up will entail dredging and de-silting. There are also plans to introduce phyto-remediation through constructed wetlands, the planting of bamboo and other plant species along the river banks, rip-rapping or coco-matting and the construction and greening of linear parks.

For its part, the DENR and its attached agencies will intensify the monitoring of industrial and commercial establishments near the creek.

At the same time, the DENR said it will provide regular water quality monitoring and technical assistance to stakeholder groups in the area.

The revival of Diliman Creek is part of the DENR’s “Adopt-an-Estero Program” which encourages the private sector, national and local governments and civil society to extend support in cleaning up urban center waterways.