Mayor Greg Gasataya is appealing for community cooperation after 26,105 kilograms of waste, roughly the equivalent of three full garbage trucks, was extracted from Mambuloc Creek in Bacolod City on Thursday, July 10.
The massive cleanup operation highlights the critical need for public involvement to combat persistent flooding and environmental degradation in the city, he said.
The enormous haul, primarily composed of household waste and plastic debris, was removed as part of intensified flood mitigation efforts.
These initiatives are specifically targeting highly vulnerable areas such as Barangays 2, 8, and 10, which frequently experience the brunt of flooding, the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
Gasataya personally oversaw the initial dredging operations on Thursday, underscoring that civic participation is absolutely critical for any long-term success.
He emphasized that while the city is committed to implementing infrastructure solutions like catch nets and other reinforcements, these efforts alone cannot solve the problem.
“We can clean this today, but if people keep throwing trash, nothing will change. Cooperation is key,” Gasataya stressed, reiterating that flooding will persist unless residents stop dumping garbage into waterways.
The mayor urged all citizens to take an active role in protecting the environment, reminding everyone that maintaining clean waterways is a shared responsibility.*