AKB leads ‘Handog Kalikasan Para ki Ina’ clean-up drive

By Ana-liza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY --- As part of its annual commitment to keep the Naga City River dirt-free before the onset of the traditional celebration of Peñafrancia festivity comes September, Ako Bikol (AKB) Party List led more than 500 hundred volunteers in cleaning the Naga River bank during the “Handog Kalikasan Para ki Ina” clean-up drive held Saturday, August 27.

AKB Party List Media and Political Officer III Sally Luces said that the activity is specifically a preparation for the traditional fluvial procession, which marks the return of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia to the Basilica shrine from the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.

“Ngayon po, ang title po nito – Handog Kalikasan para ki Ina, para po yung commitment ng Ako Bicol Partylist, yung Bicolano devotion bilang isang Bicolano deboto, naniniwala po tayo na ang gabay ng Mahal na Ina ang nakakapag number one sa puso ng mga Bicolano sa Ako Bicol Party List,” Luces added.

Volunteers from various youth organizations, government offices, men and women in uniform, particularly members of the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), private associations, AKB educational beneficiaries, and AKB Bicol scholars actively participated in picking the litters, segregated recyclable and non-recyclable materials and ensure that the waterway is free from garbage that may obstruct its free flow.

AKB has been spearheading the Naga River Clean-up drive for almost 12 years now. The activity was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic when lockdowns were imposed in almost all municipalities, particularly in this city.

AKB Party List Camarines Sur Provincial Coordinator Jerson Alvarez thanked the participants for joining AKB in their advocacy to imprint an image of a clean Naga to thousands of devotees who are expected to flock this September.

“Ini pong ngonian na ginigibo ta, seguro dagos-dagos ta na po ini. Dakulang bagay po na nagkasararo po ang Ako Bicol na ang leading agency kan Ako Bicol --- yaon po ang PNP, Philippine Army, BFP, may additional ngonian po, iyo ang Philippine Navy asin ang Eagles Club. Syempre, yaon po ang mga taga Ako Bicol, lalong-lalo na yung mga educational beneficiaries, at ang media,” Alvarez stated.

Luces also extended her appreciation to those who constantly supported AKB Party List’s candidacy and for allowing them to dominate the party list race, especially in the recently concluded May 2022 local and national elections. (PIA 5/Camarines Sur)