A creek in Barangay Veinte Reales, Valenzuela City was recognized as one of the “Most Improved Esteros” in Metro Manila during the Gawad Taga-Ilog 3.0 (GTI) roadshow held in the city on Thursday, Aug 3. (Photos from Valenzuela City Government/MANILA BULLETIN)
The roadshow is a yearly contest spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) to find the barangays in Metro Manila with the best estero, as determined by a set of standards. Gawad Taga-Ilog is an initiative that was started in 2020 with the goal of encouraging Metro Manila citizens to take a more active role in the continuing cleanup and restoration of the renowned Manila Bay. Since GTI's debut, Valenzuela City has actively participated and bagged multiple awards in the contest. According to the DENR, the nominees will be judged according to the LGUs’ management of their solid and liquid waste in their creeks, informal settler families and illegal structures, habitat and resources, and sustainability and partnership. This year, Veinte Reales Creek was recognized as the Gawad Taga-Ilog fourth runner-up in the "Most Improved Estero” 2Category and the Champion in Sustainability and Partnership Management in Gawad Taga-Ilog 3.0. The PNR Creek in  Barangay San Antonio, Makati City was named the champion or the most improved creek this year, while Pasig River in Barangay Pineda, Pasig City bagged the first runner-up award. Meanwhile, Concepcion Creek in Barangay Concepcion Uno, Marikina City was the second runne-up, and Redemptorist Channel in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City the third runner-up. “Kung maiko-compare natin sa ibang siyudad, ay hindi na kailangan pa sabihan ng Mayor bago kumilos ang kapitan. Sila mismo ay may sariling initiative, sariling investment….. Kaya congratulations sa ating mga barangay (If we can compare it to other cities, the Mayor doesn't have to instruct before the captain acts. They have their own initiative, their own investments... Congratulations to our barangays)," Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian said. The event was attended by DENR-NCR Assistant Regional Director Engr. Henry Pacis along with his staff, DILG-Valenzuela Director Sudi Valencia, punong barangay and council of the winning barangays, Liga ng mga Barangay President Jonjon Bartolome, City Environment and Natural Resources Office  (CENRO) head Engr. Rommel Pondevida, and Housing and Resettlement Office (HRO) head Elenita Reyes. DENR-Metropolitan Environmental Office (MEO) North Deputy Director Forester Olga Arzadon also expressed his gratitude to the local government for its active engagement over the previous three years. In 2020, Lingunan Creek in Barangay Lingunan, Valenzuela City  was named the Grand Champion of the event. The Polo River in Barangay Malinta, also in the city, got the third runner-up prize in the contest in 2022.