COMMUNITY volunteer and Parks and Recreation staffer Marcelino “Max” Aguon is calling on the owner/s of the cows that are roaming freely in the Grotto area in Marpi to secure them so they won’t leave manure in the parking lot of one of the island’s most famous tourist spots.
Aguon said cow manure is not a good look for a tourist site.
On Monday, he said he chased the cows and cleaned the manure they left in the Grotto parking lot.
Aguon said he is asking the ranchers to please help keep the site tourist-friendly.
A multi-awarded community volunteer known for his regular cleanup activities at Sugar Dock and other tourist sites on island, Aguon said he will continue his advocacy for a clean and healthy environment.
In June 2020, the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Veterans Affairs Office urged the Department of Public Lands to address concerns regarding cow manure in Marpi.
MVA said “cow manure in Marpi is a public health concern and an eyesore.”
The Veterans Affairs Office, for its part, said the cow manure “tarnishes the sacredness of the veterans cemetery in the area.”
DPL said it would reconsider the sizes of grazing permit areas if permittees continue to “lose their cows.”
The grazing permit is renewable and not for long-term, DPL stated at the time, adding: “We will not continue renewing your permits if your cattle are continuously found outside.”
Community volunteer Max Aguon said he chased away these cows from the Grotto parking lot which, he added, was littered with cow manure.
