DENR Recognizes Barangay Daine 1, Indang with Gawad Taga-Ilog Upland Award

LAUREL, Batangas (PIA) — In its continued effort to inspire local government-led initiatives, particularly among barangays to keep waterways and water bodies clean and trash-free, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region IV-A gave honors for cleanup efforts during the Gawad Taga-Ilog (GTI) Awarding Ceremony on December 19.

According to DENR-EMB Regional Director Robert Angelo Metin, the program aims to enhance water quality and maintain the cleanliness of rivers in the Province of Cavite, demonstrating that the Gawad Taga-Ilog (GTI) Program, which was successfully implemented in the National Capital Region, can also be adopted by nearby regions as part of collective efforts to protect the environment.

“This is anchored on the Clean Water Act and the Supreme Court Mandamus that calls for the cleaning and rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Here in the Province of Cavite, we can see a portion of Manila Bay, which is why the Gawad Taga-Ilog Program was initially launched here,” Director Metin said.

Through the dedication of barangay officials and residents, these initiatives serve as inspiring models of sustainable environmental governance and shared responsibility for the preservation of natural resources for present and future generations.

Barangay Daine 1 in Indang, Cavite, led by Barangay Chairperson Arnold Pegollo, was hailed as the winner in the Upland Category, with the Gawad Taga-Ilog (GTI) Award serving as a testament to the community’s collective efforts in promoting cleaner waterways and a sustainable environment.

“There were so many preparations from paperwork, weekly clean-up activities, and the maintenance of the river and the materials recovery facility (MRF), to Hapag ni PBBM, our community garden, vertical garden, and composting facility because everything required hard work and constant maintenance to ensure that all of these is in good condition for the Gawad Taga-Ilog,” the chairperson explained.

Pegollo added that even before receiving recognition from the DENR-EMB, the barangay had already been working with partner agencies, organizations, and the community to protect the environment, especially their waterways, which he said is vital for sustainability and the well-being of future generations.

“We continuously care for our rivers and conduct tree-planting activities along our easements, while maintaining our waterways to help increase water flow and preserve our water sources. With the prize money we received, we plan to upgrade our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) into a more efficient, organized, and user-friendly facility that promotes proper waste segregation in the community,” Pegollo said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency Calabarzon.

As part of the first batch of the GTI Program in Cavite, Pegollo, along with other winners from the Upland and Lowland Categories, expressed their commitment to sustaining the program, particularly in maintaining, cleaning, and rehabilitating facilities to promote cleaner and sustainable waterways.

Following the success of the GTI Program 1.0, the DENR-EMB is preparing to launch GTI Program 2.0, which aims to include local government units within the jurisdiction of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), such as General Mariano Alvarez, Silang, Carmona, and Tagaytay City. (CO, AM/PIA4A)