6 coastal villages join cleanup drive

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Six coastal villages in Valladolid, Negros Occidental joined a cleanup drive yesterday as part of their preventive measures on stranded sea animals which are being tangled by fishing nets and other garbage.

The activity came after some sea turtles recently got stranded in the coastal communities in the town.

According to Mark Cabrillos of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the cleanup activity was conducted at the villages of Palaka, Poblacion, Sagua Banwa, Tabao Central, Tabao Proper, and Tabao Bagumbayan.

It is a joint environmental advocacy spearheaded by the local government of the town in coordination with the Central Environment Natural Resources Office (Cenro), Department of Natural Resources (DENR), local police, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), other organizations, and government agencies.

This is part of the intensified information and education campaign on proper handling and rescuing of the sea animals like turtles, whale sharks and Rizzos dolphins which normally “appear” during the period from July to December.

The activity also aims to eradicate plastics that can poison the sea animals.

In the past days, two hawksbill sea turtles which are considered endangered species were rescued by fishermen in separate incidents after they were trapped in fishing nets.