The Marikina City local government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) held the Gawad Taga-Ilog (GTI) Roadshow at the Marikina City Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 8, to present the city’s best practices in sustainability and solid waste management.
The GTI Roadshow is conducted in order to promote the GTI contest, pertaining to the annual search for the best “estero” or small waterways in the barangays within the National Capital Region (NCR).
According to Engr. Oliver Villamena, head of the City Environmental Management Office (CEMO), the GTI “is a pioneering program of the environment department that supports the ongoing clean-up and rehabilitation of Manila Bay.”
It seeks to influence the perception of residents in the metro to maintain and protect the environment.
The GTI awards assesses both the waterways itself, and the LGU-initiated measures that are being followed to maintain good water quality.
Winners of the GTI help “ensure the long-term viability of projects centered on river cleanliness, which include the formation of a functional committee in charge of waste management; the installation of sanitary facilities; and the organization of information campaigns to encourage community engagement.”
An exhibit was set up to visually showcase the city’s esteros, followed by a short program that discussed some of the best practices to sustain the cleanliness of the waterways. Promotional materials were also distributed.
"Our rivers, symbols of life and prosperity, have faced severe degradation due to pollution and neglect," said Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro in a speech read by Vice Mayor Marion Andres.
"Today we highlight the importance of communication, education, public awareness, best practices in waste management, and crafting a holistic and systematic rehabilitation framework for a green and sustainable water system in our country," he remarked.
"Awareness plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility towards our rivers. Through effective educational campaigns, community engagements, and programs like Gawad Taga-Ilog, we are able to inform citizens about the dire state of our water systems and the urgent need for action," he said.
Teodoro encouraged citizens to be responsible stewards of nature, and help restore and preserve resources for future generations.
"River rehabilitation demands our collective effort. Marikina stands with all those who protect the lifeblood of our land ---our river---which nourishes our past, present, and future," he added.
As a model “green” city, Marikina has received GTI awards from the DENR for three consecutive years, namely for the Park Creek 22 in Barangay Marikina Heights (1st runner-up, GTI 2021); Park Creek 23 in Barangay Marikina Heights (2nd runner-up, GTI 2022; and Concepcion Creek in Barangay Concepcion Uno (2nd runner-up, GTI 2023).
Barangay Concepcion Uno was hailed as the champion of solid waste management.
Teodoro highlighted the importance of aligning local government sustainability programs with DENR’s initiatives, emphasizing that the “restoration of rivers is not just an environmental endeavor, but is likewise an economic and social one.”
"Partnership management and cooperation at all levels, from local communities to government agencies, industries, and NGOs, are essential in pooling resources, expertise, and ideas to come up with an effective collaborative output," said the mayor.