Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga underscored the indispensable role of the River and Estero Rangers in safeguarding the rivers and streams as she emphasized the need to strengthen their capacities and ensure sustained support for their efforts.
Loyzaga paid her tribute after she addressed 2,600 Estero and River Rangers from the National Capital Region (NCR), Region III, and Region IV-A at the “DEAR (Dedication, Empowerment, Appreciation, and Recognition) Estero and River Rangers” event held in Pasay City
In 2024, the Estero Rangers removed a total of 34.5 million kilograms of waste from critical waterways–29.6 million kg from NCR, 3.3 million kg from Region IV-A, and 1.58 million kg from Region III.
“Their efforts go beyond statistics; each kilogram of waste they remove translates to cleaner rivers, reduced flooding, and safer communities, especially in the wake of last year’s disasters and typhoons, when their work became even more urgent and demanding,” Loyzaga said.
