The City Government of Valenzuela is gratified of the financial aid of Php1.8 Million received from the Office of Senator Pia Cayetano, intended for strengthening their shared advocacy on environmental protection through cleaning, declogging, desilting, and improving the city’s busiest creeks.

Initiated by the Valenzuela’s Rivers and Waterways Management Office (RWMO) with the coordination of Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-EMB), the 1.5 kilometer Canumay Creek was chosen as the pilot site for the five-part waterway clean-up drive in the city.

Mayor WIN Gatchalian views the project “instrumental” in providing the best public service to his constituents.  He adds, “I am pleased of the multi-sectoral approach being utilized by the attached national and local agencies for inspiring us all to work hand in hand to achieve our common goal of environmental protection, which is supplemental to our present disaster-preparedness schemes.”

Boats, pick axes and other heavy equipment were procured through the funds of the lady senator. A total of 61 members of the External Services Office, such as the Waste Management Office (WMO), Environmental Police Unit and Clean and Green, are set to facilitate the one-month long project.

According to reports, almost 50% of the country’s rivers are already polluted from domestic, industrial and agricultural sources. Moreover, thirty-one percent (31%) of all illnesses in the country are attributed to polluted waters. The calamities which struck the nation previously have brought massive distraught among the local government units, hence, the sensible recollection of Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275).

Consistent with its battle cry ”Protect the environment... Protect life...” DENR maximizes the supposedly “rainless” summer time for simultaneous clean-up drives.

Mayor WIN committed to oversee that the creeks that traverse five (5) barangays of Valenzuela City namely, Bagbaguin to Paso de Blas creek, Paso de Blas to Canumay creek, Canumay to Lingunan creek, Lingunan to Veinte Reales creek, and Meycauayan River, are cleared of garbage, silt, and other accumulated waste before the expected onset of the rainy season.