FFHC joins nationwide water body clean-up effort

First Farmers Holding Corporation (FFHC) volunteers, armed with sticks and brooms, sacks and gloves, and a deep conviction for the environment, trooped to Imbang River in November last year as part of the company’s contribution in the nationwide effort to help clean esteros and river systems all over the country.

FFHC is a partner of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in its Adopt-an-Estero/Water Body Program, a collaborative undertaking between and among the estero community, donor-partner, the private sector, local government units, other government agencies, and the DENR to achieve a cleaner, safer and healthier environment.

In response to the call for support, FFHC recently adopted the Imbang River, a major river system in Brgy. Dos Hermanas, Talisay City, and has since then conducted a number of clean up initiatives.

On March 29, 2019, in the first of a series of environmental initiatives, FFHC launched the program with employees and volunteers cleaning the riverside of trash starting downstream up to the Litik dam upstream. 

Two months later, on June 22, the company conducted another drive and collected a total of 19 sacks, or almost three quarters of a ton of garbage.

On September 21, 2019, in time for the celebration of the Philippine Water and World Water Day, the clean-up drive was complemented with a tree-planting activity.

And finally, last November 16, 2019, volunteers braved the scorching heat of the sun as they proceeded to again clean the river surroundings up to the De Agua bridge.

Noville Ablao of the Environment and Safety Section (ESS) lauded the effort of all those who participated. 

“We are as committed more than ever in sustaining our initial accomplishments.  We know that we have to do more and encourage many others to get involved.  It has been a promising start and we will continue to pursue this program and similar other environmental initiatives in our advocacy for clean water and the rehabilitation and restoration of our waterways, especially the Imbang river,” Ablao adds.