by Henry Buzar April 22, 2021 Iyam and Dumacaa rivers (Photo from Henry Buzar) ...
April 22, 2021
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| Iyam and Dumacaa rivers (Photo from Henry Buzar) |
My life is a part of the arteries of rivers and creeks to which Lucena is known - the Iyam and Dumacaa rivers and the numerous veins of zigzagging small body of water you call creeks. I grew in these rivers, fishing, swimming, or just tracing its origin till I tire up. As a high school lad, I cross the Iyam bridge’s less than a foot wide railing as other brave children do. I jumped from the top of the pili tree down to the deep river of Pili which is similarly called then during that time to prove my manhood. Together with friends we deep dive the river and do some spearfishing and cooked the caught fish afterward.
These experiences separate us from today’s bunch of cell phone warriors so I could say with certainty that we are a lot street-smarter than them. But not only that they can’t experience those but because of the rivers being polluted by the ever-growing population of Lucena.
Yes, Virginia, the two great rivers are dying, dying, and drying. From the shots taken by the drone, you can see sludge of dirt under the murky water with its dark-green hues.
The rivers are the septic tanks and the garbage bins of some unconcerned Lucena residents. Daily, I estimate 4 tons of trash dumped into its hearts by just observing the floating plastics and other non-biodegradable materials. I also happen to scuba dive the mouth of the river beds that converge in Cotta and felt disgusted when I saw with my two eyes the bottom full of foul-smelling wastes that new organisms can mutate into new viruses or monster organisms.
Yes, Virginia, the reason why we have annual floods is for nature to clean these rivers and creeks of filth in a never-ending cycle. The consequences however are dire. The fish and other marine life that thrive on planktons also accidentally or forcedly eats the floating garbage and ultimately kill them.
The deepest part of the Ocean such as the Philippine deep (Emden Deep) the third deepest body of water in the Ocean conjures a usual scenario of floating debris and ukay-ukay-like composition of shirts, pants, and clothing materials according to the scientists that man the submersible DSV Limiting Factor. Time will come that that great body of water will be the ultimate dumping ground of the surrounding isles and landmass habitats.
We have to be responsible care-taker of these bodies of water. There is an urgent need to educate the people and fine them harshly if they do dump their waste in these rivers.
We have to act now, and not wait for a new bunch of unsympathetic future politicians, the output of board warriors that are immune and used to this kind of system but are expecting a new type of mutants they can wage war with.
We don’t have to wait for the great deluge of a massive flood that cleans the rivers but cleanses the surrounding buildings and people as well. This karma is coming, so repent and stop dumping wastes and pray that the new virus monsters don’t come from these.
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