INITIAL HEADWAYS OF DENRS ADOPT-AN-ESTERO PROGRAM

INTRODUCTION
The Adopt- an- Estero Program was launched in 2010 as a flagship program led by
DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje as a collaborative undertaking among the estero community,
private entities, local government units (LGUs) and the DENR. This program sought to be a
direct response to the continuing mandamus by the Supreme Court for agencies led by the DENR
to clean up Manila Bay, particularly through the esteros and waterways that empty into it.
Realizing the need to address the water pollution problem in the country, the Regional Offices of
the Environmental Management Bureau-DENR had been directed to undertake a similar program
in the regions. The program also sought to provide an integrated undertaking in the light of the
recent major floodings in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. In effect, the different
aspects of adapting to the changing patterns of climate, proper solid waste management (SWM),
ambient water quality protection and the participation of the private sector were rolled into one
umbrella program. These include:
The institutionalization of good sanitation and SWM practices among the estero
communities through education and actual participation;
Reduction of water-borne disease particularly among children and vulnerable groups;
Reduction of incidence and risks of prolonged flooding caused by unimpeded water flow;
Minimization of additional pollution loads into receiving surface waters, e.g., lakes and
seas; and
Sustainability integration through the strengthening public-private-community
partnerships, mainstreaming into regular LGU programs and passage of complementary
local policies.
ENHANCING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (PPP)
Taking on from the original objectives to clean up canals and creeks of wastes, debris and
silt through community mobilization and information, education and communication programs,
the support of the private sector was enhanced to increase the coverage of the program. In fact,
barely a year since it was launched, 208 Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) were already inked .
This translates to approximately 200 corporate entities and LGUs expressing their commitment
and resources to serve as guardians of flood-prone waterways all over the country. Included
among these private sector partners are Manila North Tollways Corporation, San Miguel
Corporation, Amkor Technology Philippines, Philippine Mine Safety and Environment
Association, Philex, Apex Mining, Philphos, Holcim Philippines,Philippine Associated Shell
Philippines, Coca Cola, Jollibee, Chowking, Kia Motors, DMCI Masbate Power Corporation,
Skyway Operators and Management Coorporation, and the others. Table 1 shows the number of
MOAs signed per region. Annex 1 shows the adopted water bodies per region and the
corresponding private sector partners.

Among the roles of the private sector include:

Private sector partner, in cooperation with the DENR, will select an estero to adopt as
its area of responsibility. It may collaborate with other partners especially if the estero
covers large areas. In most cases, the upstream and midstream parts of the estero are
prioritized to increase flow rates downstream while the program is being initiated.
The private sector commits a lead person to organize the Adopt an Estero team,
spearhead work and activity coordination with DENR and the LGU in mobilizing the
community. The said person or team will be responsible for the social preparation,
community mobilization, actual clean-up, and other community activities.
Table1: Number of MOAs signed for the Adopt-an-Estero Program in each region
EMB -ROS

No.

Identified

Water

Signed MOA

Bodies
I

10

10

11

52

10

4-A

13

13

4-B

11

11

11

13

11

11

10

11

11

21

21

12

CARAGA

14

14

CAR

12

12

NCR
TOTAL

6
153

8
208

LOCAL POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL INTERFACE

In addition to private sectors, an Adopt-an-Estero program partner could also be a
business establishment, an industry association, a non-government organization or any other
group that volunteers to be a major actor in taking care of the different esteros in the country.
The program also acknowledges the LGUs as strong partners in ensuring the
sustainability of the program as frontrunners in local ordinance formulation and project
implementation. LGUs are encouraged to pass policies and implementation mechanism on waste
reduction, materials recovery, improved waste collection coverage and sanitation to avoid waste
disposal into creeks.

INTERIM RESULTS AND IMPACTS

A holistic analysis of the direct benefits associated with the Adopt an Estero Program is
currently being undertaken by the project partners through a series of participatory results-based
monitoring activities. Still, even though the program is at its initial stages, stakeholders and
beneficiaries of have already reported the following results and impacts:
Less floating debris on esteros
Reports of organized community clean-ups of esteros have reported several sacks and/or
truck loads of garbage cleaned from selected water bodies. A number of these experiences have
reported some improvement visually of less floating debris on esteros and waterways. Trash trap
installed in some of the sites has initially indicated some marked improvement in water quality,
until the trap was destroyed with the weight of accumulated wastes and the pressure of the
flowing water. Annex 2 shows before and after photos of selected adopted esteros indicating
lesser floating debris through the months.

Photos: Part of the Diliman Creek along EDSA, as adopted by the Philippine Mine
Safety and Environment Association.

Increased frequency of declogging/dredging activities

From almost nil to barely once a year especially in the advent of rainy season, many
estero partners have increased their cleanup drives to quarterly, and even monthly as in the case
of Diliman Creek in Quezon City. In the Dilman Creek example, the barangays agreed on a
minimum of every fourth Sunday of every month as the date for orchestrated clean up of the 33
barangays that traverse the 17-kilometer Diliman Creek.

Improved waste collection efficiency

Due to increased awareness of barangay and city/municipal officials, waste collection
coverage was improved. Even the informal settlers who were not serviced before now have the
opportunity to dispose off their waste properly. Furthermore, a number of barangays have
increased the frequency of waste collection from once a week to at least twice a week. This
option served as incentives for residents to not throw their wastes into the esteros.
Quezon City, one of the major LGU partners of the Adopt-an-Estero Program, has put to
effect, since July 1, 2011, Ordinance No SP-1707, S-2006, requiring segregation at source of all
households, institutional, industrial and commercial wastes and/or garbage into wet or
biodegradable, and dry or non-biodegradable, pursuant to RA 9003. An improved system of
collection has also been in place: Monday and Friday for biodegradable (nabubulok) collection
and Wednesday for non-biodegradable (di-nabubulok) collection.

Quicker flooding subsidence

Most Adopt-an-Estero communities already observe significant reduction in the amount
of time it takes for rainfall runoff to subside. This experience was conveyed in the case of Palico
Creek in Muntinlupa.
In worst conditions, low-lying communities measure this amount of time in terms of
whether the streets start to become passable to vehicles. In another barangay like Loyola
Heights for Diliman Creek, a kagawad reported that while before, 45 minutes of continuous
heavy downpour is enough to flood their area, they were happy to have noted they did not
experience flooding during Typhoon Falcon last June 2011. He attributed this to the orchestrated
monthly clean up they were having among the different barangays traversed by Diliman Creek.
Additional employment generation
Data concerning additional jobs created through the program have not yet been directly
gathered but some private sector partners have reported employing, or plans of employing,
project coordinators, community organizers as well as those directly involved in cleanup drives.
These additional personnel are hired in support of regular employees of the companies and the
community volunteers.

Complementary local policies and programs

Due to increased awareness and involvement of local governments, cities/municipalities
and barangays have passed and/or amended local policies to support the program. Many of these
LGUs already had existing statutes on solid waste management and sanitation but the Adopt-anEstero initiative catalyzed them to revisit their no waste segregation-no waste collection policy,
materials recovery and sanitation policies and harmonize mechanisms with the objectives of the
program.
THE CONTINUING CHALLENGES
The partnerships are indeed in various modes- some for one year, two years, three years,
and even five years. Majority of the agreements had been entered into They are each in various
stages of implementation, many challenges ahead, with pockets of good practices being pursued,
but the way forward is almost similar in most of them- that of socially preparing communities,
particularly for informal settlers, training barangay and community leaders on waste
management, handling orientations for clusters of communities, undertaking periodic
community-based estero clean-ups, pursuing barangay materials recovery facilities/systems,
some even considering planting the riverways to remediate the water bodies. Others even dredge
the esteros. Lessons being learnt in one site infuse hope to other sites. In the end, the
reverberating challenge is, how to optimally hone private sector help, national/regional agencylocal government unit-community partnerships so that it can be said, Sama-sama Tayo Tungo
sa Malinis na Katubigan at Luntiang Kapaligiran. ###

ANNEX 2: ADOPT-AN-ESTERO PROGRAM BEFORE AND AFTER CLEAN UP PHOTOS

Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association Adoption of the Diliman Creek and Tributaries
December 2010 to August 2011 (Before and After the Monthly Orchestrated Clean Up Photos)

BARANGAY LOYOLA HEIGHTS

BARANGAY PINAGKAISAHAN

BARANGAY E. RODRIGUEZ

BARANGAY KRISTONG HARI

BRGY.QUIRINO

BARANGAY KALUSUGAN

AMKOR Adoption of the Palico Creek (February 2011 to August 2011)

Manila North Tollways Corporation Adoption of the Tullahan River (Seotember 2010 to June 2011)

PACRI CREEK Upper Stream / Calaocan Santiago City, Nueva Vizcaya

Sunpride Foods Inc. Adoption of the Butuanon River covering Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City, Cebu