Bulacan river system rehab goes hi-tech

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the government will now make full use of the digital communication technology in the cleanup and rehabilitation of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River system in Bulacan.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said the official launch of the technology dubbed “Green Line Hotline and Text Facility Project” in Malolos City tomorrow will mark a new approach in river rehabilitation.

“The Green Line Project is definitely a new approach that we have taken with our partner-institutions to elicit direct public involvement in protecting the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River system using the power of mobile phones and the Internet,” Paje said.               

Under the project, Paje said the public can immediately report polluters and other environmental violators either through texting or e-mail.

He said the river system was designated a water quality management area by the DENR in 2008 after it was identified as one of the 25 dirtiest places in the world by the Blacksmith Institute.               

Apart from the DENR, the provincial government of Bulacan, Globe Telecom, Sony Ericsson and Blacksmith Institute are also involved in the project.               

The project launch will be highlighted by the signing of a memorandum of agreement on the implementation of the Green Line Project, the presentation of the quick response teams of the local governments concerned, and the turnover of the Green Line Package to them.      – With Marianne Go