Clean-up of rivers, esteros, coastal areas yields 3.6 tons of trash

DAGUPAN CITY – A total of 3,285.95 kilograms or 3.6 tons of trash was collected during the International Clean-Up Drive here on September 19 in the three coastal areas, 20 river areas and creeks of the city.

Comprising the top 10 items of trash collected were cigarette butts, food wrappers, grocery bags (plastic), other plastic bags, foam containers, plastic straws and stirrers, plastic bottle caps, plastic cups and plates, plastic forks, knives and spoons; and paper cups and plates.

Around 65,916 pieces of cigarette butts and 52,898 pieces of food wrappers consisting of candy, chips among others were collected while plastic bags accounted around 39, 912 pieces.

The most unusual items collected consisted of clothes, shoes and slippers.

The city’s target numbers of volunteers of about 300 to 400 actually exceeded 3,203 with 15 of them children under 12 years old.

The volunteers came from the different sectors of the city with the Barangay Family as having the most number of volunteers of at least 1,865; at least 358 from the city hall family; 278 from Bonuan Boquig National High School; 215 from the ranks of 4Ps; 97 from Barangay Health Workers; and 88 from the Dagupan City Police.

The other volunteers were from the Metro-Dagupan Chamber of Commerce Incorporated, 50; Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines, 45; Colegio de Dagupan, 40; Lyceum Northwestern University-ROTC, 34; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-NIFTDC, 24; AKTO, 20; Salapingao National High School, 19; Senior Citizens, 15; Barangay Service Point Officers, 15; PhilHealth, 9; BFAR-R1, 6; PRIMO, 6; Speedo Riders, 5; Boy Scouts of the Philippines, 3; and Land Bank of the Philippines, 3.

Also joining were those from the Bureau of Fire Protection, PNP Maritime Command, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Navy, PN Reservists, Department of Education – Dagupan City, RADI, Dagupan City National High School, Police Hotline, Spectrum, Guardians, Guardian Grace, PIMSAT-ROTC, University of Luzon, UPANG-PHINMA ROTC, Deltacom, BRODI, Kabalikat, Scuba Diver, Metro-Dagupan Cycling Club, PANDA, Love Radio, PCL and PAMMA-ROTC.

On the same day, at least 300 to 400 coconut trees were planted along the coast of Pugaro by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez along with the officers and members of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants-Pangasinan Chapter led by City Budget Officer Luz De Guzman. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)