Residents in Sarangani observe Environment Month

By APRIL JANE UGSAD

ALABEL, Sarangani (June 27, 2014) — The provincial government organized a coastal clean-up drive in observance of the Environment Month at Barangay Ladol on June 26.

Ladol, recently inaugurated as the province’s newest or 141^st barangay, was formerly part of Alabel Poblacion.

The clean-up drive was organized by the Sarangani Transport Alliance for Reform and True Development (STARTeD) Incorporated and was participated in by some transport groups in the province.

The coastal area has been a problem to the barangay because residents bury their garbage in the sand.

Leah Ildefonso, organizer of the activity from the Provincial Governor's Office said "the people here themselves wanted a solution to their coastal garbage problem so we coordinated with the barangay if they needed help from the provincial government."

Residents were thankful and challenged at the same time as they saw people from other municipalities helping them out in cleaning the coast.

Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon also encouraged the residents not only in Ladol to continuously take part in cleaning and maintaining such activity.

"We have to protect our environment, especially our bay," Solon said.

"Lipay mi kay malimpyo na g'yud ang baybay, ug amo ning ipadayon para dili lang karong adlawa," said Ricardo Abalayo, a resident and a member of the Ladol Integrated Tricycle Drivers’ Association.

Ricardo Padernal, a retired police officer who is now one of the board directors of Malungon Gensan Transport Cooperative, took part in the clean-up drive in support to the program of the provincial government.

"Nagtabang mi para ma-encourage ang mga residente diri na limpyuhan ang ilang coastal area. Ang taga laing lugar nagtabang sa ila hinaot na sila pod maglihok para malimpyo ilang lugar," Padernal added. (April Jane Cagas Ugsad/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR'S OFFICE)