The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is hoping to see improvements in the condition and quality of creeks and tributaries in the National Capital Region by the end of the year with the deployment of “estero” rangers in over 700 barangays in Metro Manila.
DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu has instructed at least 1,000 estero rangers to “bring about change” in the next six weeks.
“You are the chosen few who were trusted not only to clean the trash in the estuaries, but also to prohibit people from throwing trash in these areas,” Cimatu said during the mass oath taking and deployment ceremonies last Friday.
The DENR chief said the estero rangers would serve as the “communication link” between the agency and the community in connection with the ongoing rehabilitation of Manila Bay.
Cimatu expects the estero rangers to “bring about cultural change among those who live along esteros.”
DENR has identified 279 waterways traversing 711 barangays in Metro Manila, where there are alleys not reached by garbage trucks. These alleys are mostly populated by informal settler families.
The agency said that two estero rangers will be initially deployed to each barangay, or a total of 1,422.
So far, 1,283 have been signed up and 1,142 of them attended the mass oath taking and deployment ceremonies.
The employment contract of each estero ranger runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31 this year. After which, the contract may be renewed every month. (Ellalyn Ruiz)
