Adventure on the Shore

                                             

Mabilo, Kalibo -   “The highest form of national security is environmental stability.”

 Some twenty one officers and members of the 611^th Coast Guard Auxilliary Squadron, headed by Capt. Winston  Carillo PCGA and Lt. Senior Grade Chita de la Cruz-Heap - head of the Marine Environment Protection Office, PCGA, and President of Kool Earth,  joined forces with the Barangay Council of Mabilo to assist with their coastal clean-up drive.

Captain  Rany de Felipe, together with his committee and twenty nine (29) members of SKBK Mabilo chapter, the SAKABAMA, led by Kagawad Lorena Candolita,  gave the PCGA a warm welcome. The group managed to cleaned-up 1.5 kilometers of the sea shores of Mabilo in only one hour’ time.

After the clean up the council provided well earned snacks to the fifty five workers.  The group then listened to the talk of Mrs. Chita de la Cruz-Heap,  who also serves as the federation adviser of SKBK, on how to segregate  garbage not only collected from the seashore but also from their homes.

Mrs.de la Cruz- Heap emphasized the importance of the participation by each and every one in protecting our environment since this is the only home that we have.  When the environment suffers, our people suffer too. She also commended the enthusiasm of the’ Kababaihan’ and the Mabilo barangay council for extending their full support. Mabilo is also the last of Kalibo’ barangays on the road to New Washington.

Her address  was followed by a short talk by Capt. Winston Carillo about the PCGA, which  like  Kool Earth does not recruit members. The PCGA allows people to feel in their heart the importance of volunteerism, and welcome those who offer their help without reservation.  Volunteers wishing to become members of the PCGA are first vetted by the  committee, and once accepted they go through a thorough training schedule which covers the various aspects of PCGA’s  involvement such as rescue, first aid, and many more.

Mrs Chita de la Cruz-Heap once more reminded those who attended that “It is not what we gathered but what we have scattered that tells what kind of life we have lived!”

One Kind of Partnership

Kalibo, Aklan- In response to growing concern about Kalibo’s garbage problem, the Local Government Unit of Kalibo has called for support for its Ecological Solid Waste Management Program. In response to this request the Samahan ng mga Kababaihan sa Bayan ng Kalibo, with the assistance of  Kool Earth, has decided to embark upon a partnership project for a cleaner Kalibo.

SKBK members after receiving their IDs as deputized Solid
Waste Management enforcers of Kalibo.

A solemn but joyous celebration of  partnership towards a Cleaner and Healthier Kalibo between the Local Government Unit (LGU) and the Samahan ng mga Kababaihan sa Bayan ng Kalibo (SKBK) was held on the third floor of the Kalibo Municipal Function Hall on February 15^th. The meeting culminated with the distribution of ID’s deputizing the SKBK women as Solid waste management enforcers.

 Ms. Nina Jhoy R. Pinolan sang an inspiring invocation at the commencement of the ceremony. Vice Mayor Madeline A. Regalado acknowledged that there would most likely be difficulties which the members  of the SKBK would encounter when they begin their voluntary service which is scheduled to begin within their own barangays. She went on to say however that she believes that these women will succeed in their noble endeavor none the less.

Her welcome remarks were followed by the acknowledgement of guests and participants by Ms. Adorada Reynaldo, Public Service Officer II of the LGU, and   Mistress of the Ceremony.  This acknowledgement was followed by an environmental song composed and sung by a talented employee of the LGU, Mr. Mark Anthony Sevilla

The Honorable Mayor Lachica offered a touching message in which he thanked the eighty six women and four men who were deputized for their unreserved support of the Solid Waste Management Code of Kalibo, Municipal Ordinance 2009-004.

Some of the women were asked what motivated them to embark upon this difficult and unpaid project, and their reply was,” We do not do this for the sake of money. We do this in order to prepare a place for our children and for our grandchildren so that they can live in a place where they can be proud of their ancestors.”

“We reiterate that we do not do this for the sake of politicians. Regardless of whoever may be in power now, they should count themselves lucky that the women of today are here to give them a helping hand in minimizing their work load.”

Many more projects have been planned, but the deputation of the women as solid waste management enforcers is a big step in the right direction, and will be a great help not just for the Poblacion of Kalibo but also for the 16 barangays.

The women believe that with the continuing support and participation of everyone concerned, this aspiration will be achieved. They also believe that our current dilemma has been cause by human beings, both as a consequence of corrupt practices, and also by the ongoing abuse of the planet.

More inspiring messages of support were delivered by  the SKBK President, Mrs. Editha Rubio, Hon. Ananias V. Solina President , Liga ng mga Barangay and Police Superintendent Aden T. Lagradante, Chief of Police  of Kalibo Police station.

The event was closed with inspiring remarks from Engineer Jessie C. Fegarido in which he expressed a message of hope. ”Thank you for your cooperation” he said. “I hope that your enthusiasm will not end today as we close this event because a vast job awaits you in your respective barangays. We hope that what you have started will become a flame of hope in your own barangay towards achieving  greener and cleaner surroundings for all of us to enjoy.”

“Thank you once again, and I trust that you will take home with you the spirit of public service, cooperation, hard work, dedication to your duty, a sense of humor, together with the inspiration that was shown to us by Madam Chita Heap and Madam Edith Rubio. With the support of our Local Chief Executive, Mayor  William S. Lachica, our Sangguniang Bayan through our Vice Mayor Madeline Regalado , to all the barangay chairmen, and  NGO’s, let us make Kalibo the center of attention not only the province of Aklan but also our nation as a whole, and even the entire world. We trust that due to our bayanihan spirit we will be able to make Kalibo the cleanest town in the Universe, and even surpass the accomplishments of Palawan and Davao!”