CENRO Bago City brings COVID-19 aid to river warriors, frontliners, farmers

The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Bago City, Negros Occidental conducted a series of relief operations to river warriors, frontliners, and farmers who are the real heroes that protect the environment, secure border entries to control the transmission of Coronavirus Disease (CoViD-19) pandemic and produce essential food.

Sixty pieces of culled chicken, 10 trays of eggs, three sacks of rice, and assorted instant noodles were distributed to 27 Sum-ag River Marshals and members of Bantay Katunggan of Sum-ag River Rehabilitation Project who are economically challenged due to the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Bacolod City.

These river warriors help preserve and protect the Sum-ag River from pollution and exploitation, as it serves as fish wharf for residents in the nearby communityy and being developed into a cruising destination.

CENRO Bago City also extended support and gratitude to the frontliners of checkpoints in Brgy. Taluc and Crossing, Ubay, Bago City. A total of 50 frontliners received food packs and snacks as they secure the quarantine passes of incoming and outgoing vehicles during checkpoint operations.

Land Management Officer (LMO) Romeo Alicante, Jr. of CENRO Bago City assisted in distributing Php6,000 worth of groceries to 48 trisikad drivers of Brgy. Cudangdang, Enrique B. Magalona.

Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) were also given Php 3,000 cash assistance for their lunch and snacks while monitoring the health of people in the barangay.

During the 50^th year celebration of Earth Day last April 22, CENRO Bago City went to the municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto to help environmental partners in upland communities who were affected by the implementation of ECQ in the province. Those partners were not able to sell and transport their produce to Cebu and Bacolod City.

A total of ten crates of toloy sardines, five crates of flying fish, five sacks of rice, five sacks of rock salt and five sacks of mussels were distributed to the household members of People’s Organizations (PO’s) in the municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto: Don Salvador Benedicto Agroforestry Farmers Association (DSBAFFA) with 50 households; Bagong Silang-Marcelo Katilingban sang Sustenidong Mangunguma (BSMKSM) with 22 households; Bagong Silang Binhi Farmers Association Inc. (BSBFAI) with 30 households; and Benejiwan Integrated Social Forestry Farmers Association (BISFFA) with 40 households.

Fifteen households of Ata Tribal Community, an indigenous group in Brgy. Bagong Silang, Don Salvador Benedicto, also received food assistance, as well as the 22 checkpoint personnel of the neighboring Barangay Minoyan in Murcia.

CENRO Bago City also bought agricultural products, like pineapples, harvested by the farmers. These harvests were not able to reach Cebu and Bacolod City due to transportation restrictions.

Engr. Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, CENR Officer of Bago City, spearheaded the series of relief operations with the help of local government units (LGUs) of San Enrique and Bacolod City. (DENR–6)