Two friends Clean Drainage Canals in Laguna as Their Hobby
Two friends in Laguna have found a unique and meaningful hobby: cleaning garbage from esteros or drainage canals.
Instead of the usual activities like drinking or hanging out, Russel Holanda, a factory worker, and Owen Garcia, a porter, decided to clean up the drainage canals in the town of San Pedro, Laguna.
Garcia started this initiative in February 2023 after noticing that trash was a major cause of flooding in their area, especially during the rainy season. Seeing the problem, he asked his childhood friend, Holanda, to join him in cleaning up the clogged esteros.
Since then, the two friends have been going around the city, searching for drainage canals filled with trash. To raise awareness, they began documenting their cleanup efforts on vlogs, encouraging netizens to dispose of their waste properly.
The duo even receive tips on social media about locations in need of cleaning. They do their work voluntarily, without expecting anything in return. At first, they didn’t have any proper equipment like gloves or jumpsuits.
“Voluntary lang po talaga namin ‘yung ginagawa,” said Garcia. “Minsan may mga nakukuha kami na patay na hayop,” Holanda added.
Sometimes, they even encountered dead animals while cleaning. Despite the challenges, they continued their mission.
However, general physician Dr. Via Roderos-Galban warns that cleaning esteros can be dangerous without the right protection, as it exposes them to diseases like leptospirosis, hepatitis, or other parasitic infections, especially if they have open wounds.
Fortunately, kind-hearted people donated protective gear such as jumpsuits, gloves, shovels, and other tools to help Garcia and Holanda in their efforts. The duo has even extended their clean-up drive, traveling as far as Albay in Bicol.
As they clean, they also separate recyclable materials and sell them to garbage collectors, making sure their efforts also benefit others.
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