TACLOBAN CITY -- Gamay River is Eastern Visayas' official entry to the 2020 Recognizing Individuals/Institutions for Vibrant and Enhanced Rivers (RIVERs) for Life Award, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office 8 (DENR-8) said here on Tuesday.
DENR 8 Regional Executive Director Tirso P. Parian, Jr. told the Manila Bulletin that Gamay River, located in the municipality of Gamay, Northern Samar, is one of the indicators of DENR's success with the help of the community. “The greatest measure of success to the programs and activities facilitated by the DENR such as the RIVERs for Life Award is the involvement and ownership of the community. This is evident in the actions of the local government unit of Gamay and its constituents,” Parian said
Gamay Mayor Timoteo Capoquian said the entry of their river system into the RIVERs for Life Award has strengthened their efforts to further improve the state of Gamay River.
Capoquian said that along with the regular clean-up and tree planting activities, the local government crafted the Gamay River Strategic Plan and passed the Gamay River Protection Ordinance for the rehabilitation of the river and to instill discipline among stakeholders. Presently, the LGU had already filed 12 cases against violators consistent with the ordinance.
He added that their campaign for Gamay River carries the theme “May forever sa Gamay River!”
“The RIVERs for Life Award paves the way for the improvement of several other concerns such as sanitation and health, that’s why we are exerting full support to this endeavor," Capoquian said. “It’s not about winning, it’s about the impact of the project. Even if we don’t win in the national competition, we shall continue the activities under the RIVERs for Life,” he added.
Parian said the RIVERs for Life Award was institutionalized by Secretary Roy A. Cimatu in 2019 to raise awareness on the need to protect and conserve the country’s rivers as the lifeblood of earth and humanity.
He said the activities to be implemented under the RIVERs for Life include aesthetic and water quality improvement, solid waste management, partnership and community mobilization, and information and education campaigns.
Parian added that the award will be given to the best rehabilitated and most improved Class C River in the country by Secretary Cimatu during the DENR’s anniversary in June.
The town of Gamay, with an area of 115.1 square kilometers, is a 4th class municipality with 26 barangays. The town has a population of 23,511 according to the 2015 census.