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Join Earth Day, save Banica River Dumaguete City- To draw urgent attention to preserve the ailing state of Banica River - Dumaguete City's only source of potable water - and to respond to the urgent need for concrete initiatives to be begin, the city will join the worldwide celebration of Earth Day. According to Metro Dumaguete Roadrunners Club (MDRC) events coordinator Paultom Paras, recent reports have shown that the incidences of pollutants in the river have risen towards dangerously high levels in recent years. A series of events have been lined up which includes the Coastal Road Clean-up on April 19, covering Flores Avenue and North Bound Terminal;and the Earth Day: 5-K Banica River Run and Exhibits on April 20 in Quezon Park. The two-day celebration will include a series of poster making events that will culminate with the 3-kilometer Fun Run & Walk, 5-K Finishers Run, Arnis Pinoy Martial Art Demo and the Banica River Exhibits. The exhibit will feature the 150 posters based on the theme "Damgo sa Banica" as portrayed by kids ages below 12 years old residing along the Banica River. This event is in consonance with the City Resolution No. 456 series of 2006 a year-long program of Dumaguete City implemented by MDRC as part of the City's sports tourism, healthy lifestyle, environmental awareness, and youth programs (T.H.E.Y.). According to Paras, the MDRC collaborated with Charlie Fabre chief of CENRO-DENR, Dr. Mira Sinco President of Foundation University, the Friends of Banica River and the Environment (FBRE), Dumaguete Arnis Association (DUMAA) and the Institute of Youth Sports for Peace in organizing the celebration. Interested Dumagueteños and corporate entities can share their resources through volunteering for the event and providing logistics and snacks for the volunteers. Those who are interested may contact Esther Windler of the FDRE or Grace Bustillo (contact no. 09268578611) of the MDRC. Earth Day is a celebration initiated by the United Nations since 1970 which aims to inspire awareness of the Earth's environment. Since January 1970, this event has been celebrated in many countries each year on April 22. Moreover, Paras said the MDRC will hold its annual Sports Youth Camp and Mini-Olympics for children and children with special needs this May. Meanwhile, the World Water Day: Run for Banica and Poster making was held at the Quezon Park and Banica River, sponsored by the Foundation University Institute of Youth Sports for Peace and the German Technical Cooperation (DILG-GTZ), FBRE and MDRC last March 30. (MDRC Press Release, by Anthony Odtohan) |