Plastic bags, broken bottles, discarded pieces of clothing, food wrappers.
These are just some of the items taken out of the Mangonbanon River during DSWD’s cleanup drive at Tacloban City.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, through the Disaster Response Management Division, recently spearheaded this cleanup drive as part of Disaster Resiliency Month.
Together with volunteers from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), City Disaster Risk Response and Management Office (CDRRMO), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), from other organizations, and the residents from the barangays themselves, the teams were able to accomplish the mission.
Armed with rakes, dustpans, broomsticks, and shovels, the volunteers started to work, gradually clearing the river of any garbage that might hamper its natural flow or cause blockages.
The entire operation was simultaneously carried out across 17 identified barangays in Tacloban City – Barangays 36, 37, 39, 42, 42a, 43, 43a, 44, 44a, 45, 48, 49, 50, 50a, 50b, 53, and 55, from the area of Anibong to Youngfield where the Mangonbangon river flows.
The event was capped by a boodle fight, a traditional form of feasting which represents unity. This was held at the Youth Hub, beside the City Engineer’s Office.
In doing this cleanup drive, DSWD would also like to encourage everyone to always take care of the environment, and to always work together to make the world we live in a better place.