Close to 200 barangay officials, community leaders and representatives from national and local governments, civil society and the private sector partners will gather for the fourth annual Partners’ Forum of the Adopt-an-Estero/Waterbody Program on September 24-25, 2014 at the Microtel, UP-Ayala Land Technohub, in Quezon City.
The Adopt-an-Estero/Waterbody Program is one of DENR’s priority program, which is being implemented nationwide through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
EMB Director Atty. Jonas Leones in a statement said that the forum will serve as a venue to review progress, share best practices, technology options, identify areas for improvement, and plan on the clean up and rehabilitation of esteros (creeks) and waterways in Metro Manila.
“ By convening our partners all over Metro Manila, we can touch base across sectors especially the barangays who are actively engaging themselves in periodic clean ups thus reducing threats of flooding in their areas ,” Leones said.
Under the Adopt-an-Estero/Waterbody Program, private company partners will undertake environmental improvement on the waterway they have adopted. This may include regular clean-up activities, dredging of the creek as well as information and education campaigns, community mobilization activities, and trainings for concerned stakeholders.