The Iloilo City General Services Office (GSO) collected some two tons of waste along Calajunan Creek during the Clean-up Drive May 17.
The activity was part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Water Quality Management Area (WAQMA) initiative to maintain the quality of water along Calajunan Creek.
“WAQMA monitors the water quality of different bodies of water in the city. They identified Calajunan Creek wherein we gathered 1,830 kilograms of wastes which impede the flow and pollute the water,” GSO Asst. Department Head Neil Ravena said.
Ravena said among the wastes were organic materials and dead animals.
“One of the factors why there were such wastes collected in Calajunan Creek is because of informal settlers. Relocation will be a solution just like what we did in Iloilo River,” Ravena added.
Republic Act 9275 or Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 tasks DENR, in coordination with National Water Resources Board (NWRB), to designate certain areas as WAQMAs such as watershed, river basins or water resources regions.
WAQMAs aim to protect the water body and its tributaries by keeping water quality within the standards. (Merianne Grace Ereñeta/Iloilo City PIO)
