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 last Friday 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 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 of waste, all plastic, from the city’s wastewater treatment facility at the Quezon Park.
He also advised against throwing liquid waste into the canals. “Our canals 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.
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 activities from their calamity fund,” he said. (Rachelle Nessia/PIA Negros Oriental)