Belmonte made the commendation after the volunteers close to three metric tons of garbage from waterways in the past six months.
The volunteers, who received an allowance from the city government, are residents of various barangays.
Sagip Batis was intended to complement Belmonte’s overall program for a more efficient waste collection and disposal system as well as to address health and sanitation concerns.
The program also aims to promote volunteerism among residents living along the waterways.
Frederika Rentoy, of the city’s Environment Protection and Waste Management Division, said the volume of garbage collected from creeks was equivalent to the load of some 200 dump trucks.
Last year, Sagip Batis operations resulted in the significant reduction of flooding in some parts of the city. The operation also yielded information that aquatic life abounds in creeks and rivers.
Rentoy, in her report to the mayor, said the waterways that were cleared included those of Pasong Tamo, San Francisco, Tullahan, Dario, La Mesa, Bagbag and Marikina.
The creeks of Culiat, Maribio, Anaaran, Balingasa, Tanque, Paltok, Culiat, Libis and Balunbato were also included in the declogging operations. — Perseus Echeminada