Residents earn in river clean-up

CEBU, Philippines – To address the heavy flooding in Mandaue City, sixth district Representative Gabriel Luis Quisumbing and the Department of Labor and Employment launched a cash-for-work program for resident-beneficiaries of 16 barangays.

The clean-up operations will target Mahiga Creek, Butuanon River and the Guizo-Mantuyong River.

At least 800 residents from the identified flood-prone areas of the city are beneficiaries of the said program wherein they will do clean-up operations in their respective barangays for ten days to be paid P340 per day.

The beneficiaries will be identified by the barangay where they live.

Quisumbing said in line with disaster preparedness, participants will be conducting clean-up and clearing activities in their respective barangay, especially along the creeks and rivers in the hope that such initiative will be a huge help to eliminate flooding in the city.

"Metro Cebu has recently experienced unusually heavy flooding, so we thought of initiating this program with the support of the DOLE to clear our waterways," said Quisumbing.

Some of these beneficiaries have already started the said clean-up operation last Saturday after joining an orientation seminar from DOLE as the activity will be done by batch.

The area of operations are Barangays Alang-Alang, Banilad, Cabancalan, Canduman, Casuntingan Ibabao-Estancia, Maguikay, Mantuyong, Paknaan, Subangdaku, Tabok, Tingub, Tipolo and Umapad.

Said barangays are affected during floods due to the rise of water from Mahiga Creek, Butuanon River and the Guizo-Mantuyong River.

Quisumbing also announced he will also seek DOLE's help in extending the cash-for-work program to Consolacion and clean up the areas along the Cansaga River.