DENR-EMB, partner-industries to ink accord on Adopt-An-Estero Program

By MARIBEL B. MUNSAYAC
March 7, 2011

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-8) is set to sign an agreement with three industries for the clean-up of two major creeks in the city of Tacloban under the Adopt-A-Estero Program – a priority program of the DENR under the leadership of Sec. Ramon Paje.

The industries are Coca Cola Bottlers Phils. (CCBPI) - Tacloban Branch, Shell and Petron.

These three industries have been diversifying its corporate social responsibility and helping in the drive to clean up the waterways is now among them.

The signing ceremony between DENR and the CCBPI, which is slated this March 19 in Burayan, San Jose, Tacloban, is seen to formalize and solidify the partnership for the program that is aimed to address the huge volume of silt, wastes and other debris that have long accumulated in these two waterways.

Coca Cola, Shell and Petron will also be involved in the information and education campaign, community mobilization, and training of community leaders on solid waste management. Under the MOA to be signed, part of their responsibility is to prepare a comprehensive Clean-Up plan and provide the resources in accomplishing this plan.

They will also have to undertake expanded environmental improvement, including the dredging of some portions of their respective adopted esteros.

For its part, DENR, through EMB will intensify monitoring of industrial and commercial establishments and undertake, among others, regular water quality monitoring of selected areas within the Mangonbangon River, Burayan River and Mahayahay Creeks.