The revelation that Iloilo City is recovering more than 700 kilograms of garbage per day from its drainage outfalls should be a wake-up call — not just for city officials, but most urgently for the barangay leaderships situated along the city’s rivers and creeks. As reported by this paper, the city government is taking decisive steps by expanding its waste trap program and planning to hold barangays accountable for unmanaged solid waste that finds its way into waterways like the Iloilo River, Batiano River, and Dungon Creek. This is a necessary move. However, while city-wide programs and infrastructure like waste traps are vital, they are ultimately reactive. The real work — the proactive defense against pollution — must happen at the grassroots.

The Editorial Board. (2025, June 14-15). Environmental protection: Accountability begins in the barangay [Editorial]. Panay News, p. 8.