Volunteers in action.
With the purpose of replicating the success of the Save Maningning Creek Project, the Angat Kabataan ng Taytay, Inc. piloted the Save Mahabang Sapa or Lupang Mitra Creek last May 31, 2014. This is in partnership with the Pamahalaang Barangay of Sta. Ana headed by Punong Barangay Joselito T. Calderon and other stakeholders, in preparation of the rainy season.
Mahabang Sapa Creek is located in the area of Floodway B, crossing Greenwoods Executive Village – Taytay and Lupang Mitra in Barangay Sta. Ana and is connected towards Tapayan River going to Laguna de Bay.
Image from the Run for Hope 2: Hope for Waterways, last February 23, 2014
The event was made possible through the fund from the generated income of the recently concluded Run for Hope 2: Hope for our Waterways last February 23, 2014, with the help of the local government unit of Sta. Ana and the United States Embassy.
Hoping to re-do the success of the Save Maningning Creek, the clean-up drive was designed through the step-by-step process similar to the previous project, which started by inviting multi-stakeholders and encouraging them participate and help in cleaning and rehabilitating Mahabang Sapa Creek. Present on the event proper were:
1. Municipal Government of Taytay (MENRO, Green Army)
2. Pamahalaang Barangay ng Dolores, Muzon, San Isidro and San Juan, Taytay, Rizal
4. Local DILG (MLGOO)
5. Homeowners of Greenwoods Executive Village Area 9 & 10
6. PNP – Taytay
7. BFP – Taytay
8. Angat Kabataan
9. Residents of Lupang Mitra and Purok 8 Floodway
10. Manila Water (potable water)
11. SM Hypermarket – Taytay
12. Provincial Government of Rizal
The clean-up drive was a success. The volunteers were able to de-clog the creek by removing hundreds of sacks filled with trashes and foreign materials. The waterlilies which hinder the flow of water was pulled out of the water.
Residents of Lupang Mitra Creek helping doing the clean-up drive.
One of the accomplishments brought by the Save Maningning Creek project was it encouraged the residents living beside to creek to do their share in rehabilitating the creek, it happened again during the Mahabang Sapa Creek. When the actual clean-up drive began, residents went out of their houses, got whatever cleaning materials they have and helped. This is one important component of the creek rehabilitation project, that the people would have the sense of responsibility in maintaining the creek and the sense of ownership to embrace the project.
Mahabang Sapa Creek is just one of the million creeks and rivers that needs to be put into life once again. Similar project will be implemented in Mindanao and in nearby countries such as Cambodia and Laos. This project, just like a creek, may just be a small solution to the larger problem which, sad to say, is as big as the ocean. But, with unity and the heart of taking good care of the environment, these small streams of success will eventually flow and more and more bodies of water will once again, be brought into life. #Padayon
Angat Kabataan 