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Calamba City, Laguna - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) CALABARZON, in partnership with the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) has officially launched its mobile museum boxes for the priority rivers in CALABARZON last April 22, 2022, in line with the global celebration of Earth Day 2022.

CALABARZON is home to 345 river systems in the country. According to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) CALABARZON, 40% of these river systems are polluted and under the “Class C” category. The priority rivers for the region are Zapote River in Cavite, Pangil River in Laguna, Pansipit River in Batangas, Boso-boso River in Rizal, and Iyam-Dumacaa River in Quezon.

Tayo po ay nagtitipon-tipon ngayon para ilunsad ang kauna-unahang mobile museum boxes ng DENR CALABARZON. Layunin po ng ating gawain na ito na hikayatin ang publiko na makiisa sa pagtugon sa mga isyu sa pamamahala ng solid waste at wastewater sa mga kailugan ng rehiyon”, Assistant Regional Director for Special Concerns Jose Elmer Bascos said during his message.

For. Corazon Gasapos, Regional Ecological Solid Waste Management Coordinator of EMB CALABARZON emphasized the importance of the conduct of innovative Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Campaigns in reaching out to the public. “Bilang DENR CALABARZON at EMB CALABARZON, ay mananatili tayong magkasangga sa larangan ng pagkukwento sa mga adhikain natin na may kwenta”, she added.

In addition, OIC Jhaydee Ann Pascual of the Botany and National Herbarium Division of the NMP agreed to the importance of effective IEC Campaigns. “When people cannot go to the museums, we bring the museums to them”, she said.

The DENR CALABARZON museum boxes shall also be a traveling exhibition to promote cleaner waters in the region. “It should be durable enough, sturdy enough, and informative enough so it can reach further distances. These informative boxes remind us of the things that the next generations would be missing if no action will be undertaken on these priority rivers”, OIC Pascual added.

As the country still face the looming threats of solid and liquid wastes, DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria calls for community cooperation for cleaner waters and cleaner environment. “Ang effort na ito ay isang effort rin ay maikonekta at maipalapit tayo sa ating kasaysayan, sa ating kultura, at sa ating likas yaman”, RED Tamoria added. 

As of December 2021, the EMB CALABARZON has reported that the Region generated 5,778 tons of wastes per day. Cavite contributes the largest waste generation with 2,022 tons/day, while smallest generated wastes are from Quezon with 146 tons/day. In addition, EMB CALABARZON has disclosed that around 22 million tons of waste is projected to be generated by the region by 2020-2025.

Representatives from the River Basin Control Office (RBCO), CALABARZON water districts, and Adopt-A-River/Estero partners also participated in the event through face-to-face and zoom platform. 

The said activity can be viewed thru: https://www.facebook.com/DENR4AOfficial/videos/5693785454007647. Meanwhile, a virtual launch of the DENR CALABARZON museum boxes is targeted to launch this August 2022 to further increase the engagement and reach of the importance of cleaner river systems in the region. ###