Volunteers urged to join new drainage cleanup
By July 18, volunteers from non-profit group MOVER will begin the cleanup of nine stormwater drainages from Garapan to San Roque—a major undertaking that will take several Sundays.
Benny Pangelinan, chairman of the Environmental Interagency Cleanup Operation Team, urged local residents and workers to volunteer their efforts in the cleanup project. The EICOT supervises the project of affiliated group MOVER.
The new project will cover nine stormwater drainages from the American Memorial Park in Garapan to Paupau Beach in San Roque. This follows the cleanup of over 20 drainages on Beach Road from Garapan to San Antonio, which was completed several months ago.
Pangelinan lamented the improper disposal of trash by some residents, saying they should be responsible enough to clean up their own backyards.
The EPA honored MOVER during the 23rd Pacific Islands Environment Conference last week at the Dai Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, naming the group as one of the recipients of the 2004 Environment Achievement Award.
MOVER, an association composed of Filipino workers, has been engaged in several cleanup projects of the EICOT.
Mobil Oil Mariana Islands Inc. officially announced granting MOVER’s request for a new $5,000-grant to carry out the new drainage cleanup project, after sponsoring the luncheon for conference delegates Friday.
Cecile Bamba-Suda, Mobil’s public affairs manager, lauded MOVER for coming up with the proposal for the new project.
“We like the idea that MOVER has a plan,” Suda said. “It’s within the corporate philosophy on community awareness about the environment we live in.”
Suda told conference delegates that Mobil was impressed with how MOVER handled the first drainage cleanup, which made the decision easy to heed the request for grant money. “We all want o protect the environment.” (John Ravelo)
