Cleanup project gains support from residents

With support from villagers in Tanapag, volunteers cleaning up stormwater drainages and beach sites in northern Saipan expressed strong commitment to continue conducting projects that benefit the community.

“We are encouraged by the local residents’ gestures,” said Jun Lapeceros, chair of the non-profit group MOVER. “Even if we get tired, the burden is eased when they come to chat with us and appreciate what we are doing.”

After getting accolades from federal and local officials, the cleanup projects that the group has been involved in have been getting praises from local residents this time. Some villagers stopped by as they see volunteers do the dirty work, while others helped the volunteers by providing food and refreshments.

The family of Division of Fish and Wildlife aquatic education specialist Joe Ruak prepared lunch for the volunteers. Two Sundays ago, the family of former House Rep. Frank Aldan provided volunteers with refreshments.

A team from the DFW’s Brown Tree Snake program also oriented the volunteers on what to do should they spot a brown tree snake as they conduct cleanup projects. A religious group approached the volunteers, offering their support in the coming days. The group expects to finish the project after several Sundays.

Environmental Interagency Cleanup Operation Team chair Benny Pangelinan said the group’s efforts have finally caught the attention of local residents.

“There were some people who passed by and said they were willing to help,” Pangelinan said.

More than 100 members from several non-profit Filipino groups yesterday trooped to Tanapag to continue with the drainage and beach cleanup project for northern Saipan, which is being coordinated by EICOT.

Besides MOVER, other groups that fielded volunteers included POWER, KAMPIL and the Bicol Association of the Northern Marianas.

“The participation of the NGOs is very encouraging. You can see the full cooperation among these groups,” said Pangelinan.

For more than five hours yesterday morning, volunteers were at it, focusing on the several-hundred-meters stretch of waterways and drainage in Tanapag. According to Pangelinan, the volunteers collected some 75 bags of trash from the waterways and the beaches.

Earlier this year, MOVER and other groups affiliated with EICOT completed their first stormwater drainage cleanup, which covered more than 20 drainages and beach sites from Garapan to San Antonio.

MOVER’s efforts on this and other cleanup projects earned for it recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the CNMI Legislature.

Both the previous and current cleanup projects were funded by a $5,000 grant from oil giant Mobil.

Lt. Gov. Diego Benavente, CNMI congressmen, and private groups such as CTSI Logistics Inc. support the project by providing food and logistics.