Kool
Earth Organization, the environmental Arm of the Aklan Medical Society and the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources teamed up in this year’s Earth Day celebration. The theme of 2014’s
Earth Day is ‘Green Cities.’
Despite the demanding schedule of the Kool
Earth members, they put a day aside to support this noble project.
The LGU employees presented themselves to
Mr. Efren Trinidad, Assistant Administrative Officer II, as early as six a m.,
whilst the Philippine Coast Guard
Auxiliary together with members of SEALS and RESCUE, presented themselves to
Capt. Pete Ruiz PCGA, Squadron Commander and to Mr. Terence Toriano of the
MMRDO. Members of the public such as the KATROPA, the KACLA tricycle drivers association and many more
unexpected supporters also came in droves. Other participants were inspired to
present themselves to the assembled groups upon hearing the request of the KE
president over the radio.
Each group was deployed to the respective parts of the town
by six thirty in the morning . Places cleaned were as follows: the bank of the
Aklan River, M. and C Laserna Sts. F. Quimpo St, XIX Martyrs St, Veterans
Avenue St., N. Roldan St, Toting Reyes St., Oyo Torong St. and Mabini St.,
corner Roxas Avenue to Crossing Buswang.
For the second part of the event, Mayor
William Lachica warmly greeted the participants. His brief message of encouragement was
followed by an Environmental Forum and a
film depicting Yolanda tragedy. This was held
at the third floor of the Municipal town hall. Members of the 4P’s who were in
the same building were invited to joined
in. KE President believes that it is not only through cleaning all nooks and
crannies of the town that is needed but by constantly educating people through
information dissemination that the residents of this town can be made aware of
their responsibility not just to themselves but to others.
Legal Information officer, Atty. Ai ai dela Cruz-Rivera, discussed the Municipal
Ordinance No 2009-004 together with its provisions and the Municipal ordinance
2013-006, an ordinance regulating the use of plastic bags and styro foam and
prescribing fee on its use in the
municipality.
Ms. Quadra showed her appreciation to
the successful result of Earth Day Celebration and to the effort that the LGU
and Kool Earth put together to make this event a fruitful one. Mayor Lachica
also encouraged Kalibonhons to practice daily clean up drive on their doorsteps
and surroundings and dispose of their garbage in their right places.
The
next day, Wednesday 23rd, thirty five members of ambulant vendors headed by Mr. Johnny
‘Boy’ Samenio, picked up where we left off on Tuesday. It was inspiring to see
selfless people like these who sacrificed their time so they could serve their
town. Someone said that in this modern day the word sacrifice is a scary
business because sacrifice means losing or letting go of something that you
dearly treasure but in this occasion the volunteers who participated in the
beautification and clean up drive of Kalibo on these two days running, gave
their precious time without any murmur but with a smile and a happy heart.
This project did not end here because on
April 28 the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in the Kalibo
International Airport, did their Earth Day participation headed by their
manageress Ms. Cynthia Aspera. Ms Aspera
was recently assigned in Kalibo but
people of Pook and the
surrounding areas could see changes, slowly and hopefully surely to continue.
Appreciation and gratitude is being sent
to Barangay Estancia, the only barangay that did their clean up drive in
conjunction with the Earth Day Celebration.
Congratulations Kalibonhon. Let us
continue what we have started so we can leave a green city to our children’s children.
She noticed this chapel roofless and
out of pity and being naturally kind and generous, she took pictures of it and
posted on her Facebook wall, hoping that her thousands of friends will notice
and help. Indeed, she was right. She started collecting from the local
community, family, relatives and friends abroad. She even did not spared her
ever-kind Mama Susing who donated three mahogany trees to start building the
chapel again..jpg)
