Del Monte backs Safe River project

By Joe Palabao, Correspondent 

FOOD giant Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (DMPI) has expressed its full support to the “Piso Para sa Suba sa Cagayan de Oro” project which is intended to raise fund for the protection, rehabilitation and preservation of the Cagayan de Oro River.

  During a recent Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting held at Liceo de Cagayan University, DMPI’s Human Resource Department head Ophelia Condeza turned over 287 pieces of tin cans to the school’s Safer River, Life Saver Foundation, Inc. (SRLSFI) to be used as donation cans for the project.   

  The proceeds will go to the clean-up drive, river patrol monitoring, coastal clean-up, tree growing, bagging/potting, feeding program organized by SRLS Club, eco-tourism-river tour, fingerlings dispersal and livelihood projects, said SRLSFI executive director Rosalinda Huerbana, who also received the tin cans donation. 

  The turn-over ceremony was witnessed by members of the Technical Working Group who dropped their respective ceremonial coins and bills to signify the start of the project.

  Huerbana said the donation tin cans will be distributed and placed in strategic places like the schools, private and government offices. 

  She said the foundation needs fund to sustain its programs and projects that include the giving of incentive prizes for outstanding barangays and individuals in their support to the foundation’s program.

  Institutional members present include regional offices of NEDA, DENR, DPWH, DOT, DILG, BFAR,

  city government, CLENRO, City Planning, College of Arts and Sciences/LDCU, APO Kauswagan, Del Monte Philippines, Inc., BusinessWeek Mindanao, City Tourism, Liceo Net /LCDU, Zealep Advertising, City Agriculture Office, HRMC/LDCU, City Tourism, City Engineer’s Office, and City DILG, Office, City Building Office, City Tourism and City Public Services Office.

The meeting likewise tackled the Committee Annual Action Planning which include the holding of a River Summit within the year to address the concerns for continuous protection, rehabilitation and preservation of Cagayan de Oro River and other rivers in Misamis Oriental.