Volunteers sought for Balili River cleaning

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The local government here  urged those interested to take part  in the Balili River clean up drive on March 15 to revive the river system.

Spanning 23.81 kilometers from Sagudin River in Baguio City as its headwater all the way to Sablan, the Balili River is major river system Benguet. Due to pollution and sedimentation, some parts have been regarded as biologically dead.

Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Arthur Pedro said the cleaning operation spans from km 3 in Bell Church to km 6 along the Balili river including its tributaries and canals in Poblacion, Puguis and Pico.

Pedro said the cleaning drive is a regular activity held every quarter under the adopt-an-estero program, and  for this  first quarter, they are  coinciding  it with  the World Water Day  which focuses on the importance of freshwater,  and  the town’s  Strawberry Festival . This activity    involving the public hopes to raise awareness and drum up community involvement.

The program is a collaborative undertaking between the community along estero or inlet or water channels, donor-partners, LGUs, other government agencies and to promote and achieve a cleaner, safer and healthier environment.

A briefing is set on March 7 at 1 p.m. at the municipal gymnasium for volunteers and stakeholders on the scheduling of assigned areas and other concerns. However, volunteers may register until March 12.

 Donors for tools, snacks for participants and other logistical needs are also welcome, Pedro said.

Various stakeholders such as the Balili River System Revitalization Coalition, DENR and other concerned agencies and private partners are expected to take part in the activity.

The LGU encourages the residents to go out and be part of this   effort to revitalize the river system.

For details, contact the LGU Environment Section at (074) 424-7198. -- (JDP/SCA-PIA CAR, Benguet)