LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) — Local officials in the capital town of La Trinidad have partnered with various stakeholders to implement collaborative actions in waste management.
Barangay officials of Pico with the Barangay Agriculture and Fisheries Council and Toyong Neighborhood and Farmers Association gathered a load of trapped garbage at the first bridge during a debris clearing activity on January 12, 2025.
The team collected an approximate total of 350 kilograms of biodegradable and 100 kilograms of non-biodegradable materials including plastic and glass bottles, and cellophanes. Oil spills were also noticed along the creek.
According to Barangay Kagawad Leo Wallace, this was more than the volume of garbage collected during their clean up on December 29 last year.
This creek is one of the tributaries of Balili River, a body of water being monitored by the Balili River Water Quality Management Area Governing Board.
In their latest sampling report in 2024, the Environmental Management Bureau shared that the water quality of the river failed in some parameters due to pollutants.
With this, local officials and volunteers urge the public to properly manage their garbage.
Barangay Kagawad Delmer Shagol encouraged residents near the creek to bring their garbage at the proper collection area.
“Umap-apela kami man kadagitoy da residente ditoy asideg ti creek, asideg met daytoy collection point ti basura ket anusan da a nga iyeg ditoy ta every morning met nga hakhakuten ti munisipyo, dagiyay basurero nga kadwa tayo nga tumultulong nga aglinis ditoy karayan tayo,” he said.
[We appeal to the residents especially those near the creek to bring their garbage at the proper collection point. These garbage are being collected daily by the municipal government, garbage collectors and other volunteers who clean the river.]
The farmer volunteers also asked individuals whose not to dump the carcass of their pets in the river. Two decaying dogs were found during their cleaning.
Concerned authorities within and the neighboring areas have also been planning programs and activities to ease water pollution in the Balili River. Among the plans include nature-based solutions by planting bamboo, intensifying monitoring of domestic and industrial areas, upgrading the sewage treatment plan, and possible allocation of trash traps, among others. (JDP/CVBT-PIA CAR)
