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With Narra and Cherry Blossom trees planted as signs of hope, Mandaue City and Japanese officials yesterday sealed an agreement to share expertise and information to preserve and protect two troubled rivers.
Mandaue and Japanese non-government organizations (NGOs) signed a pact that aims to preserve and protect the Guadalupe River in Cebu City and the Butuanon River in Mandaue City.
The two biggest river systems in both cities are so polluted and choked with garbage, they’ve been declared “biologically dead” for years.
The agreement signed yesterday ensures funding support for the rehabilitation of the two rivers patterned after programs done on the Japanese rivers of Murasaki, Sumida, Hori and Shimanto.
Japanese partners planted Narra trees before the signing of the agreement at the Cebu Internation Convention Center (CICC). Local officials planted Sakura or Cherry Blossom trees at the Mandaue Reclamation Area.
Both are the national trees of Japan and the Philippines.
Environmentalist Guadalupe Latonio said a “networking scheme” will allow information and technology exchange between Cebuano and Japanese environmental groups on how best to preserve the two rivers.
“The actions will have to be taken at the soonest time. It is already long overdue,” added Latonio, head of the Citizen's League for Ecological Awareness and Responsibility (CLEAR).
Jun Hashimoto, secretary general of the Takayima Mariver Foundation for Environmental Protection based in Kitakyushu City in Japan, pledged financial and technological support for the program.
The Japanese visitors also pledged to hasten the training of volunteers and persons in charge with the river rehabilitation.
Hashimot was among the signatories of the agreement that was also signed by Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and representatives from different NGOs based locally and in Japan.
The future programs of the Asia Aquatic Network Agreement will include other rivers in Asia soon.
Latonio said she hopes the Mandaue City government will start specific actions for river rehabilitation soon.
She said NGOs cannot do it alone and the local government unit (LGU) plays a crucial role.
Latonio said a river clean-up needs to pinpoint and eliminate the root causes of pollution like household trash.
She said it is important for the Mandaue City government to relocate families living near riverbeds.
These problems were also experienced by Kitakyushu when it rehabilitated the Murasaki river, she said.
Mayor Cortes earlier said the housing and urban development office in Mandaue set aside land in Paknaan for relcoation of families living in “danger zones” .
“Let us just walk the talk. We have enough of the talking already and we cannot just talk all the time. We need a concerted effort from everyone,” Latonio said.
