MANILA, Philippines—Officials of Marilao town in Bulacan province and the cities of Valenzuela and Caloocan in Metro Manila have agreed to join hands in cleaning up the Marilao River which was included last year in the list of dirtiest places worldwide.
The agreement was reached in a meeting last week among Bulacan Gov. Joselito Mendoza, Marilao Mayor Epifanio Guillermo, Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri and Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian
The officials also pledged to allot funds for the cleanup.
Mendoza called for the meeting to discuss the state of the river and find ways of solving the pollution problem.
Bulacan officials earlier said industrial and domestic waste from the cities of Caloocan and Valenzuela were contributing to the degradation of the Marilao River.
According to Guillermo, the body of water has become a catch basin of garbage from the metropolis and nearby areas in Bulacan.