Residents urged not to throw trash into city's canals

by Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, July 30 (PIA)  --- An environment officer in Dumaguete City has appealed to residents here to stop throwing trash, especially plastic, into the canals which clog the city's drainage systems and increase the risk of floods.

“It is sad that our residents continue to toss their trash into our canals. Our drainage systems are not intended for solid waste,” said Rogelio Clamonte, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, during a forum held July 29 by the Philippine Information Agency to discuss disaster preparedness measures undertaken by local governments. 

Clamonte blamed the plastic-clogged drainage systems in the city for the floods that hit the city on February 7, 2009, one of the worst disasters in the city's history for the last 50 years as houses were washed away and many parts of Dumaguete City were placed under water. 

After the floods, Clamonte said they were able to fish out around 200 kilos or 0.2 tons of waste, all plastic, from the city's wastewater treatement facility at the Quezon Park. 

The plastic waste collected were brought to the city dumpsite, said Clamonte. 

He also advised against throwing liquid waste into the canals. “They are intended for treated wastewater only,” said Clamonte. 

The city government has put up two water treatment facilities and a septage treatment facility in compliance with RA 9275 or the Clean Water Act. 

For this year, the city government alloted a total of P2 million for the conduct of pre-disaster management activities such as barangay forums. 

Clamonte also urged barangay officials in Dumaguete to initiate disaster preparedness measures in their own villages. “Barangays are also allowed to allot money for these from their calamity fund,” he said. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)