TACLOBAN CITY – The regional office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) conducted a “walk-through” visit to this city’s biggest river to see its physical condition after the supertyphoon Yolanda. The visit to the Mangonbangon River by the EMB personnel was in light of the observance of the World Water Day earlier as said river was among the bodies of water in the region identified under its adopt-an-estero program. The walk through was also done to raise awareness on various water-related issues that may have come up after the onslaught of Yolanda. The river was among those heavily covered by debris from the devastation of the supertyphoon. The walk through also drew attention to the current efforts being done to revive Mangonbangon River as well as major rivers and creeks in Eastern Visayas. Meanwhile, the EMB-8 also disclosed that other donor-partners under the adopt-an-estero program conducted clean up of their respective adopted water bodies to highlight the World Water Day celebration. In Isabel, Leyte, the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp.(PSAR)together with other companies and locators inside the Leyte Industrial Development Estate, led the clean- up of Cabangcoy Creek. Meanwhile, in Baybay City, the city government spearheaded a clean-up of the Pagbanganan River. A World Water Day program and symposium was also conducted to emphasize on the connection of water and energy which is this year’s international theme. Through the EMB’s adopt-an-estero/water body program, private company partners undertake environmental improvement on the waterway they have adopted. These include community mobilization, regular clean-up activities, dredging of the creek, trainings for concerned stakeholders as well as information and education campaigns. With the global theme, “Water and Energy,” and national theme, “Water is Power,” local and international organizers of WWD aim to raise awareness on water-energy related issues affecting millions of people all over the world. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
