COTABATO CITY – The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MENRE-BARMM) has teamed up with Cotabato Light and Power Company for a series of environmental initiatives, including estero adoption and coastal clean-ups.
According to Philippines News Agency, a three-year memorandum of agreement was signed on Wednesday by MENRE-BARMM and Cotabato Light, setting the stage for collaborative efforts to enhance environmental sustainability and rehabilitate local water bodies degraded by pollution and detrimental human activities. The agreement was endorsed by key officials, including AboitizPower Distribution Utilities senior vice president and COO Anton Perdices, Cotabato Light president and COO Valentin Saludes III, and MENRE-BARMM Minister Akmad Brahim.
Valentin Saludes III highlighted Cotabato Light’s dedication to environmental stewardship, expressing the firm’s ongoing commitment to incorporate social responsibility into its business practices. The clean-up drive is poised to focus on strategically significant areas noted by MENRE-BARMM, targeting the most polluted zones. Additionally, the initiative will feature educational efforts and community participation to ensure enduring environmental conservation.
Minister Brahim emphasized the importance of the partnership, noting the combined commitment to maintaining the ecological health of the region’s waters. This collaboration underlines a shared ambition to foster a cleaner, healthier environment within Bangsamoro. Earlier engagements this week also saw Cotabato Light and the Aboitiz Foundation Inc. contributing laptops and printers to the local government to bolster the efficiency of public services under the “PinasBilis Project.”