The Multi-sectoral Group cleans the Tumaga River in observance of World Water Day 2019
The Multi-sectoral Group (MSG) of the Tumaga River WQMA Governing Board led by Barangay Guiwan, Office of the City Mayor, and CENRO Zamboanga City observed the celebration of World Water Day 2019 on March 22, 2019 by conducting cleanup activity in the Tumaga River. Pollution of the Tumaga River from solid wastes is one of the identified problems in the 10-year Action Plan for the Tumaga River WQMA. Thus, one of the objectives of the Plan is to reduce the amount of solid wastes in the water and along the banks especially at the midstream and downstream sections of the River.
The observance of World Water Day on the 22nd of March each year is a worthy platform to increase the awareness among the people about the importance, need and conservation of water by involving them in cleanup activities in the Tumaga River. This is in line with the intention of the World Water Day campaign to inspire people to learn more about water-related issues and to take action to make a difference. The theme for World Water Day 2019 is to "Leave no one behind" and encourages people to consider marginalized groups as these are often overlooked and discriminated against when they try to access safe water. To ‘leave no one behind’, efforts must be focused towards including people who have been marginalized or ignored.
During the cleanup activity, household members were invited to participate for them to be abreast of water-related issues such as solid waste pollution of rivers. The chosen section of the River was downstream of a diversion dam for irrigation at Barangay Guiwan as solid wastes were prevalent in the area. The activity commenced at around 8 AM and the participants were provided with gloves, wooden stakes, and garbage bags for the storage of the collected wastes. Mostly non-biodegradable wastes such as plastic bags, cans, PET bottles, disposable diapers, and foil sachets were removed from the River. The Barangay Chair of Guiwan, Hon. Samuel P. Natividad was present to give his support to the activity.
Household members and participants were also provided with IEC campaign materials in the form of eco-bags to encourage people to reuse and reduce the generation of waste plastic bags. This is also in line with the Executive Order recently issued by LGU Zamboanga City on February 13, 2019 that enjoins business establishments in Zamboanga City to not use non-biodegradable plastic “sando” bags on Saturdays and Sundays as bagging materials for their goods.
