Amid the ongoing Jaro River clean-up in Barangay Ingore, located in Iloilo City’s La Paz district, city officials discussed the importance of not littering in local waterways.

“We don’t want to pollute and totally destroy our rivers,” said Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III. “We must prevent garbage from going into our rivers for this will not only affect water quality but the people living near the area.”

He also addressed barangay officials, saying, “You should encourage your constituents to minimize or stop throwing garbage into the river.”

“Waste are thrown everywhere, even in the river, which causes water pollution,” City Environment and Natural Resources Office head, Engr. Noel Hechanova, pointed out. “The city needs strategies to solve its problems on solid waste management.”

Meanwhile, Global Business Power, Inc. environment manager Rex Debuque noted, after setting up a waste trap in Barangay Hinactacan, also in the La Paz district, 108 tons of garbage was collected between April and October last year./WDJ