Several groups like the Villar Foundation, ABS-CBN and many other private individuals have given their pledge to support the rehabilitation of the Sum-ag river in Bacolod City, Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez said during the launching of its clean-up yesterday.

The Environmental Management Bureau has classified the Sum-ag river as “Category C” because of the health hazard that its water poses to humans.

Ninfa Adolfo, EMB-DENR chief of Special Projects Section, said the Sum-ag River is only for fishing and other recreational activities like boating but is not safe for swimming.

She said they conducted three parameter analyses to test the water quality yesterday in terms of organic pollution and will bring the samples to the EMB regional office for further laboratory analysis. The results will be known after 10 days.

Lopez said they are happy that there were about 328 volunteers who attended and about 20 corporations who helped in cleaning up the Sum-ag river, like Ceres Liner, BACIWA, the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police, the Visayan Military Academy, ABS-CBN Foundation, Villar Foundation, Teleperformance, schools and volunteer organizations, among others.

He said they noticed that there were a lot of solid wastes that have to be taken out of the river. What they need are more equipment like nets and pump boats in order to clean it up.

“We envision that a year after May 30, they will see a major change in the Sum-ag river,” Lopez said, adding that this is just start, with the help of Barangay Sum-ag and four other regional agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Tourism, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Ombudsman-Environment and the BFAR.

Lopez said these agencies are tasked to help in very big ways because for one the Ombudsman will see to it that all environmental laws are being enforced, the BFAR will monitor the actual kinds of species that are in the river and that they hope that, from the start up to a year from now, there will be an improvement in the number of species in the river.

The EMB will measure the quality of water in the river and see to it that this will really improve. And finally, the DILG will coordinate and help them in gathering the barangay officials and may other local governments and private sectors in implementing this particular project, he said.

Lopez said the participation of the DOTC is to see to it that the area eventually becomes an eco-tourism site which is why they will build visitors' area, or landing area, where people can board sea crafts.

Starting this month, with the help of ABS CBN Bantay Kalikasan, Gina Lopez, ABS-CBN Foundation managing director, will send a group to conduct a 3-day seminar to train river warriors for Sum-ag and forest marshals for the Alangilan area, he said.

This will continue every month and there will also be trainings for the barangays and residents who live along the riverbank, he added.

Lopez said they will see to it that the Clean River and Coastal Water Ordinance will be implemented in coordination with the barangays.

The effort to rehabilitate the Sum-ag River was initiated by Gina Lopez and Councilor Lopez in the hope of reviving its once pristine waters and rich marine life.

Gina Lopez was one of the prime movers in the cleaning-up of the Pasig River and wants to duplicate the program in Sum-ag.

She is appealing to the people of Bacolod to help in this worthy cause of saving the river to benefit the community.

Barangay Captain Rodney Carmona expressed his gratitude to the strong support of stakeholders in the activity and said that the barangay will continue to clean up the river every month with the help of volunteers groups to ensure the sustainability of the project.

A portion of the funds raised by One Run, One Philippines, organized by ABS-CBN last year, will be used to support the program and the livelihood of residents living near the river.

The rest of the proceeds of the run will go the rehabilitation of the mangrove reforestation program in Brgy. Punta Taytay and the watershed in Brgy. Alangilan.

Also present at the launching were Samson Guillergan, EMB Pollution Control Division chief, and Marie Fe Jimenea, Daff Binobo and Joanna Marie Barroquillo of the DOT.*CGS

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