Rivers, estuaries, and wetlands in Sanchez Mira serve as crucial buffers for local communities, protecting against tsunamis, storm surges, and floods. However, sedimentation can diminish their effectiveness, leading to increased flood risks. Despite budgetary constraints following typhoons, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office introduced Project Norture Estuaries and Rivers by Attracting Teamwork’s (NEAT). This project engaged officials and stakeholders from tsunami/storm surge-prone and coastal barangays in manually cleaning waterways to prevent severe flooding. Since its inception, NEAT has significantly reduced the impact of storm surges in low-lying areas, demonstrating the success of this modern-day bayanihan project.
Cleaning rivers and estuaries not only mitigates flooding but also reduces water pollution, promoting the production of diverse plant and animal species, increased fish catch, and greater profits. The clean waterways additionally offer recreational opportunities for bird watching and boat riding, attracting local and international tourists.
The success of Project NEAT highlights the importance of teamwork and civic-mindedness among DRRM stakeholders and communities in ensuring the resilience of Sanchez Mira during natural uncertainties. Despite being a basic institutional governance program, NEAT has produced significant impacts at the grassroots level.