Bulacan gov leads cleanup drive, closes six establishments along the riverbanks

CITY OF MALOLOS – Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado led the massive cleanup drive in some of the municipalities and cities in the province yesterday morning, in line with the advocacy of the national government to rehabilitate the Manila Bay.

Together with more or less 2,000 Bulakenyos, Alvarado led the cleanup activity in Brgy. Tawiran, Obando while the other teams conducted the same activity in the Cities of Meycauayan and San Jose Del Monte and municipalities of Marilao and Santa Maria.

The governor was also joined by Regional Director Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, PS Supt. Chito Bersaluna, 48th IB Philippine Army Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Arnel Cabugon, Department of Environment and Natural Resources for Field Operation Asec. Joselin Marcus Fragada, Environmental Management Bureau Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio, and Department of Tourism Regional Director Carolina Uy among others.

In his speech during the launching program in Obando, Alvarado said that it is not time to point fingers and put the sole blame to others, instead, it is the time to take a dip for the betterment of the environment.
“Ang tubig ay biyaya. Hindi dapat ito maging sanhi ng problema. Oras na upang bawat isa sa atin ay kumilos upang masolusyunan ang problema na tayo rin naman ang nagdulot sa ating Inang Bayan,” Alvarado said.

Also, with them were the officials and representatives from the Bulacan Police Provincial Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Science and Technology, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, National Housing Authority, Department of the Interior and Local Government, water district personnel, and non-government organizations.

Meanwhile, six establishments including Charito Sta. Maria Tanning, Cherry Concepcion Tannery and CDN Leather in City of Meycauayan as well as Vitarich Rendering Plant and Dressing Plant and BC Packaging Corporation in Marilao got a ‘cease and desist’ order because of its violations on various environmental laws.

Prior to this, 15 establishments in Bulacan were shut down by EMB since Friday due to the same defilements.

The launching of the Manila Bay cleanup and rehabilitation dubbed as “Battle for Manila Bay”, simultaneously done in Rajah Sulayman, Manila; Obando, Bulacan; Guagua, Pampanga; Mariveles, Bataan; and Bacoor, Cavite kicked off through a Solidarity Walk joined by thousands of participants.