BAGAC, Bataan – F rom 18,000 to 20,000 people on Saturday joined the International Clean-up Day here, cleaning not only the seven coastal villages but all the 14 barangays of the mountain town, the municipal mayor said.
Mayor Rommel del Rosario said from 5,000 to 8,000 participated in the parade from the Philippine– Japan Friendship Tower to the town plaza and later in the clean-up of the seven villages adjacent to the West Philippine Sea.
He said that while they were clearing garbage in the coastal villages, thousands were cleaning their respective barangays.
Municipal administrator Nick Ancheta said this was the biggest gathering in the observance of the International Cleanup Day not only in Bagac but in the province. “Nakakagulat ang dami ng tao,” he said.
Michelle Pillagara, secretary to the mayor, said the participants came from the police, Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire, civic organizations, senior citizens group, schools, religious organizations and barangay, municipal and provincial officials and workers and villagers.
She said that the activity started with the long parade and later the launching of the One Bagac for Zero Plastic or 140 where the mayor, environment officials and ordinary citizens symbolically placed plastic bottles inside a big fish bin.
Pillagara said that if the country has 911 for its hotline, 140 will serve as such for Bagac.
She said that 14 stands for the 14 villages of the town “Para luminis ang kapaligiran at hindi makain ng isda ang mga plastic kasi kapag nakain ito ng isda wala na tayong makakain at makakain din natin ang plastic. Huwag po tayo magtapon sa kapaligiran upang maging malinis ang mundo,” three children aged 9, 10 and 11 said while gathering worn-out slippers and shoes.
The mayor led a big group in the clean-up of the shores of Barangay Pag-asa where beach resorts frequented by tourists are located.
“Sana maunawaan ng mga tao na panahon na para ayusin ang bayan ng Bagac. Tigilan na ang pagsira sa kabundukan, karagatan at pagtatapon kung saansaan lamang ng mga basura sa upland papunta sa karagatan,” Del Rosario said.
He disclosed that the sangguinang panlalawigan has passed an ordinance that will impose penalty on violators.
“Siyempre kalinisan ang No. 1 dahil kami ay tourist destination. Talagang kailangan na malinis, tahimik at maayos kami sa Bagac. Kahit maliit lang ang bayan namin, gusto kong masiguro na kami ang pinakamalinis na bayan sa buong Pilipinas,” the mayor said.
He noted that houses used to line up in the coastal area but that he ordered the demolition of structures 20 meters from the highest tide.“Merong natuwa pero meron ding nagalit,” he recalled.
He said that he will also ask houses and beach resorts to install septic tanks approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources so that water going to the sea will be clean.
“Pagkatapos nitong dagat, pagkatapos ng bayan, lahat naman ng ilog isusunod natin. Ang mga resort hindi pwedeng mag-operate ng kanilang mga waste diretso sa dagat. Ngayon may ordinansa na kami kaya may pangil na ako,” furthered Del Rosario.
The mayor said Bagac will also be a no smoking area. Himself a chain smoker, he said that he has already begun to quit smoking.
Del Rosario promised that their campaign just started but will not only be good for a day but a continuing process.
“Magalit na ang magagalit dahil i-implement ko kung ano ang nasasaad sa ordinansa. Ito ay para sa susunod na henerasyon para sa anak ng mga anak niyo. Magtulong-tulong tayo,” he told villagers.
