Ecology rules in the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Mother Nature blessed the City of Sto. Tomas. This northeastern section of Batangas province has its healthy share of captivating natural wonders like the eternal Laguna Lake, the rhythmic flow of the San Juan, Siam-Siam, and Alas-as rivers, and the refreshing, much-visited mountain trails of Mt. Makiling and Mt. Malepunyo
Fully cognizant of the city’s rich scenic attributes, Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan modeled his development plan, with a clear eye on environmental conservation and sustainability.
The city government saw through the implementation of AJAM’s pro-active, environmentally-sound programs and projects through knowledge, positive values, and consciousness-raising campaigns that promoted and protected the ecology sphere of the city.
On Aug. 11, 2023, the city government of Sto. Tomas formally signed and implemented a 10-year Forest Land Use Plan (2023-2032) to comprehensively program and appropriately manage the city’s forest lands.
“The plan is designed to rationalize the use of forest resources, designate tourism areas, and other purposes that will preserve, promote, and protect our forest lands,” Mayor AJAM said.
ENVIRONMENT MONTH
With the theme, “Saribuhay: Recognizing Mt. Makiling’s Contribution to Community and Life,” the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas celebrated Philippine Environment Month in June 2024 with a digital short film contest.
ADOPT-A-RIVER PROGRAM
The city government implemented a monthly Adopt-A-River Program in partnership with private partner corporations like Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI)—the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of PepsiCo beverages in the country.
Through a Memorandum of Agreement—signed between Mayor AJAM Marasigan, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), and PCPPI—the Southern Tagalog Operations (STRO) team of PCPPI reinforced community engagement and sanitation efforts to keep the Dipangla Creek clean and free of obstructions. The said creek is a 300-meter stretch located at Brgy. San Miguel, beside the STRO plant in Sto. Tomas.
The PCPPI also ensured the weekly collection of solid wastes, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of the river area, through weekly cleaning, overgrown vegetation cutting, and collection of accumulated residual and non-residual garbage along the river stream.
Currently, the Operasyon Linis Ilog involves 11 riverine barangays and nine private companies in the city.
SAGIP ILOG
In observance of the International Coastal Clean Up Day in September, the city government spearheaded the Sagip Ilog program.
This entailed the planting of bamboo as a deterrent to landslides in the riverine and mountainside communities of the city, in particular, the Sto. Tomas side of the Mt. Makiling Trail.
ARBOR DAY 2024
Some 4,200 seedlings were planted in Mt. Makiling to mark the June 25 observance of Padyak sa Kalikasan.
A total of P363,000 collected from the event will benefit 69 cerebral palsy patients.
Designed to improve the vegetation of Mt. Makiling, as well as promote the environment-friendly sport of cycling, a five-kilometer trail from the City Hall to Barangay San Bartolome was traversed by cyclists, all the way to the planting site.
A corollary Adopt-A-Tree activity was also observed, where 40 indigent families received P1,500 worth of groceries.
WASTE SEGREGATION, RECYCLING
The city has a fleet of five garbage trucks that collect and dispose the garbage of the whole community. It has its own transfer station located at Sitio Jordan in Barangay San Vicente.
Garbage in the city is disposed by way of a scheduled solid waste collection.
The City Government of Sto. Tomas, led by Mayor AJAM, implemented waste segregation and recycling programs to encourage residents to properly dispose of their waste and recycle waste materials whenever possible.
Recently, the city inked a pact with Prime Gloves Manufacturing, a private plastic company operating in the city. Under the pact, the company committed to implement sustainable practices in their manufacturing processes, thereby reducing their plastic bottle waste by implementing a system of reusable containers for their employees.
Mayor AJAM likewise spearheaded a “Plastic Palit Bigas” (Rice in exchange for plastic), an incentive project for Tomasinos exchanging sacks of litter collected from the city’s rivers for a kilogram of rice.
To herald the coming of the Christmas season with an environmental twist, the city unfurled its annual Parol (Lantern) Making contest, where the primary objective is to utilize recycled materials to make attractive Christmas lanterns.
The overall recycling effort likewise covered recycled tarpaulins-turned into eco bags, pillows, and aprons.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM & CANAL CLEAN-UP
Last November, the city government distributed the payout for its Drainage System and Canal Clean-Up, a program designed to involve barangay residents in keeping clean and safe their respective communities.
Launched with the support of Anakalusugan Rep. Ray Reyes, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) supervised the efforts of around 450 decloggers from 30 barangays that participated in the program. Each declogger received P400 per day.
Implemented from Oct. 7-31, the program ensured that barangay canals remained clean and free-flowing, not prone to flooding and mosquitoes that carry the dengue disease.
PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Under Mayor Marasigan’s direction, the city government will strengthen its Environmental Programs, focusing on the protection and conservation of Mt. Makiling.
Around the city proper, a City Greening Program will be implemented. This will entail the installation of Vertical Green gardens in the city’s busy streets and highways.
An Arboretum is set to be established as a means to introduce visitors to the plants and trees that are endemic to the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The project serves to underscore the need to protect the city’s endemic flora from extinction.
