Marikina gov’t declares river ‘tiangge-free’

To protect Marikina River, the city government has declared the waterway and its surroundings a “No Tiangge Zone” beginning November.

Resolution No. 158, Series of 2011, which was passed recently by the city council, prohibits the holding of night bazaars, usually during the Christmas season, on the banks of the river to prevent the accumulation of trash, which could clog up the waterway and contribute to flooding.

Even though the city government embarked on a resettlement program in 1992 and relocated 22,000 families, a recent report by the United Nations-affiliated Asian Disaster Preparedness Center said that 800 families were still living on the banks of the Marikina river.

Aside from protecting the waterway, Vice Mayor Jose Fabian Cadiz said that the resolution was aimed at ensuring the safety of people, especially when the city is hit by heavy rains.

This year, the bazaar will be held at the central parking area in front of city hall from October 28 to January 15.

“We expect that people would still patronize the bazaar even if it is relocated,” Mayor Del De Guzman said.