Since 2002, local government officials in southern metro Manila, have been rehabilitating the Las Pinas-Zapote river system by training “river watch” volunteers in ecological solid waste and river management. Under a re-greening process known locally as `bambusetum’, residents have planted bamboo and mangroves to prevent soil erosion, installed rubbish traps and carry out daily rubbish collection along a 56km stretch of the river.
The municipal project is backed by former presidential candidate Senator Manuel Villar, whose family is from the area and whose wife represents the district in parliament.
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This year's World Water Day, observed annually on 22 March, is focused on cities and the challenge of keeping up with population growth and industrialization.
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