In an era of clout, a group of content creators in General Santos City is trying to prove that social media can still be used for good.

Their leader, Jheric Paul Galan, said it all started when they took a video of them clearing a canal that was clogged heavily during a flood in Barangay Mabuhay on March 31, 2025.

When it was posted, the video went viral.

“Pag-content namo, wala mi kabalo nga mibaha diay mao tong didto ni boom tong video. Nalipay lang mi kay tungod sa daghan nag-appreciate sa among  ginabuhat,” Galan said.

Since then, the group of seven content creators started clearing other clogged canals in the city, and the “Sagip-Kanal” advocacy was born.

The group said “Sagip-Kanal” is their way of responding to the government’s call for community involvement in environmental protection.

The local government said it acknowledges the work the group has done, and that the same proves, yet again, how trash from houses do end up in the drainage and contribute to flooding when canals can no longer accommodate floodwaters during heavy rains.

“Although ang uban muingon nga, unsa man na basin for the sake of content or what lang na, but no, ang ato’ng ginatanaw dira, nakita nako ang pagpanigkamot sa mga General lalo na mga kabantan-onan,” CENRO-GenSan Waste Management Office Head, Nonoy Pareja, said.

“Kani siya, eye opener pud sa atun mga barangay, opisyales man o sa katawhan, kay kaning mga basura nakuha sa mga bata or volunteer nato, gikan na pud na diya sa area… why not mao na ang ato’ng ginaingon nga sa gikan pa sa ato’ng panimalay - segregate na nato,” Pareja added.

Still, the LGU reminded those who may be willing to help, like cleaning canals, to prioritize safety and to wear personal protective equipment.