A Call to Heal Our Rivers and Creeks

Signs of disregard and abuse will turn the Sabang river and its tributaries to health hazard, then non-existent.
Signs of disregard and abuse will turn the Sabang river and its tributaries to health hazard, then non-existent.
Trapped garbage and debris will continue to pile, destroy the small rivers and creeks.

Blog Action Day 2010: WATER

October 15 is Blog Action Day 2010. We join hands with worldwide bloggers to spread across the message and issue about “WATER” which many of us just take for granted.

On our part, we focus our sight on the small Sabang river and its tributaries that meanders through the width and length of Calabanga.

We find it in the villages and barangays like Sta. Cruz, Ratay, San Francisco, San Isidro, San Pablo, San Roque, Salvacion-Baybay, etc, which empties itself to the vast fishing area of San Miguel bay.

These minor waterways and creeks, traces its source from the cool springs and waterfalls of Mount Isarog.

With the unprecedented exponential growth of population of the town, the natural waterways that criss-crosses the area became natural dumping system of waste, including household sewage, in the absence of a municipal sewerage network.

Unfortunately, this sorry situation is replicated in the thousand or so towns and cities of the Philippines, big or small.

The prevailing situation by the mouth of Sabang river signifies its current state of health obtained through siltation and pollution from garbage and other waste produced and dumped by the residents all these years.

Some of the tributaries feeding the river are hardly flowing if not clogged with debris, weeds and mangrove which are not supposed to be growing.

Long ago, fishermen row their boats on these streams to catch fish. Long ago we saw folks paddle their boats on the same rivers and use them to ferry people and goods. Long ago we saw the young (boys) and the old (men) jump into these creeks and rivers for fun and to cool down the summer heat.

Now, in a span of less than fifty years, utter abuse and disregard has transformed them into the deplorable sorry state that they are now- ugly, stinky and dying, devoid of aquatic inhabitants.

Whatever pollutants these creeks and rivers carry out to the San Miguel bay will do more harm than any good. Not only the unabated is bad for the environment, it is also bad for the people who rely on the bounty of the sea.

What nature has offered us to benefit and enjoy we should also protect in return and pass on to the next generations. They who will come after us has much human right as we do have for the same freedom and benefits out of the natural resource that water brings.

Let us not deprive them of this. We do not have to wait for that time when these minor body of waters become a waterscape but only in memory.

Time is running out for our rivers and creeks. But we have time on our hands to save and salvage them. Let us put an end at dumping refuse and garbage on our rivers. Saving these waterways begin at home, spreading awareness in our community and helping the local government. Let us organize and move. The time is now. Not tomorrow, but today.

You can visit this site to learn more about water and what appropriate actions we can do to participate and support.

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2 thoughts on “A Call to Heal Our Rivers and Creeks”

  1. I saw that you are participating in Blog Action Day. We’re trying to spread the word about a new water treatment technology, and our success in Africa.

    There are regions in the world where the mineral content of the ground water, and contaminates are so high that it is impossible to get clean healthy water from a well or borehole. For the first time ever, a technology is available that can provide communities throughout the world with fresh clean drinking water. Here’s the link to our press release: http://www.protectorsystems.com/PR-2010-10-13.html

    Please take a moment to read about our success.
    Thank you,
    Jim Ellis jim.ellis@protectorsystems.com

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