LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Ripples for Rehabilitation project for the Balili River was launched during the celebration of the Balili River Day on October 12 at the Baguio Convention Center.
Gaudelia Reyes, head of the Saint Louis University environmental office, presented the Ripples for Rehabilitation for the Balili River which she described as a developmental undertaking involving partnership and geared towards sustainability. It directly engages the barangays and adopters along the river system.
Adopting the “Salaknib ti Waig” concept, this public and private partnership of concerned LGUs and adopters from the private and government sectors is aimed at harmonizing efforts in rehabilitating the Balili River’s tributaries in Baguio City.
Ripples project will be in the form of a competition which will involve the local government units of Baguio City, Sablan and this town.
The two-year project has four components – conduct of needs assessment, coordination and planning, and organization of Barangay Environment Team (BET), and implement rehabilitation plan and termination of the program.
If change begins in oneself, it will go a long way and creates a ripple effect and multiplies which may further have an impact as wide as the ocean, Reyes quipped. (JDP/SCA-PIA CAR, Benguet)