While adhering to the citywide clean-up drive, to prevent the spread out of Dengue, Zone II did it in a most creative way.

After cleaning the muddy creek, the barangay folks staged a “toy banca” race Thursday to prove to all and sundry that the once dark and murky waterways are clear and running and free of mosquito larvae.

Zone II Barangay Chairman Nonito Aranas said this is the eight year they have staged the “toy banca” race as part of the annual clean-up of the creek that runs accross the city proper.

“Though we regularly clean the creek, but sometimes it gets dark and muddy and filled with refuse coming from upstream. So as part of our participation to the city-wide clean up drive against Dengue we did it differently by immersing the cleaning with fun, and so we staged the toy banca race. In that way, the residents, particularly the children will see the importance of having clean and running waterways,” Aranas said.

Aranas was joined by his consistent supporters like Congresswoman Beng Climaco and Councilor Gerky Valesco who encouraged other barangays to come up with activities while having clean up drives.

Aranas said, this year, there were 180 “toy banca” joining the race. The contest even accepted “dayao” entries or entries coming from nearby barangays, Aranas revealed.

Cong. Climaco said the activity has always been fun because once the “toy bancas” are released, children and adults alike also rushed towards the finishing line which is few hundred meters away from the starting line.

“Cleaning our neighborhood can always be fun too, only if we learn to add some creative activities,” Climaco said.

On the other hand, Valesco said the “toy banca” race attracted many residents from nearby areas just so to witness the humble event. “I say, this is part of the rural tourism and I admire the sense of creativity that Zone II has put up,” Valesco said.