City Agriculturist Office earlier

discussed plans to install trash cans

The Iloilo City Agriculturist Office recently appealed for the public to stop throwing garbage into the Iloilo River, particularly in the mangrove area along the riverbank.

“Please refrain from throwing waste in mangrove areas because [that] is not good to environment,” explained City Agriculturist Romulo Pangantihon. “Mangroves, especially those located at [the] Esplanade, which is considered as one of our tourist destinations, give the impression that we care for our river.”

He noted, Iloilo River Development Project has amassed plastic bags, coffee cups, junk food wrappers, and diapers among the garbage gathered from the river.

Last February, the Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Office reported a total of 182 individuals were apprehended in the city for littering. The policy is a result of Regulation Ordinance 2004-149, which penalizes individuals caught littering, urinating or defecating, or creating graffiti in public spaces.

At the time, Pangantihon also revealed there were plans to have trash cans installed along the Iloilo River Esplanade and Diversion Road as a means of discouraging the public from littering./WDJ