Mayor Arlene Arcillas is among the participating runner |
One thousand six hundred eighty Rosenians and environment advocates walked, ran and biked for a cause on April 10 during the Sikad-Lakad-Takbo para sa Kalikasan (SILAKBO), the City of Santa Rosa’s unique way of raising environmental awareness and responsiveness.
“Our objective to unite all sectors – government, industrial, school, business, non-government organization and civic organizations – was realized through this activity,” said City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Linda Creencia. She also reported that not only Santa Rosa residents but environmental advocates from adjacent cities and town like Calamba City, Biňan City and Cabuyao also joined in the City’s kick-off celebration of Earth Week.
According to registration records, 169 biked, 1,055 walked and 456 ran during the event.
Organized by the City Government of Santa Rosa, in partnership with the Save Silang-Santa Rosa River Foundation Inc. (S3R2), SILAKBO is also a fund raising campaign in the efforts to save the 27-kilometer stretch of the Silang-Santa Rosa River, the major waterway here. For this year, proceeds reached P250,000.
According to S3R2 President Ronnel Andaya, the Silang-Santa Rosa River runs through four barangays in the City up to the Laguna Lake. Highlighting the timeliness of the theme “Malinis na Ilog, Kayamang Kaloob, Andaya said “In the future, Laguna Lake will serve as major source of water that is why we want to help in keeping it clean through the S3R2.”
An environmentalist herself, City Mayor Arlene B. Arcillas did not just walk but also ran during SILAKBO. In her message, she said that the City Government has many programs for the environment but admitted that the officials cannot do it alone. “We need the participation of every one; all of us should start within our homes and barangays,” she said.
“Here in the City of Santa Rosa, we have PNP - we Protect and we Nurture, therefore we Preserve,” said Mayor Arcillas. Serving to validate this principle of protect-nurture-preserve, the City of Santa Rosa is drafting its first ever Environment Code, a compendium of all existing local ordinance and national laws related to environment. Expected to be approved by June this year, the Environment Code contains provisions on air, water, land and solid waste management.
Other activities for the weeklong-celebration of Earth Week 2011 include a photo exhibit at SM City Santa Rosa on April 11, mural painting on April 12, Green Exposition on April 13, MusiKalikasan Concert featuring The Olay Yapanit on April 15 and Lakeshore Clean-up on April 16. (Aries Zapanta)
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