Rama orders school cleanups

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama ordered the immediate cleanup of public schools used as polling centers in yesterday's Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay elections.

Rama does not want the students to be burdened by all the trashes when they come to school. Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro however suspended the classes today to allow the teachers who served during the elections to rest.

The Mayor ordered the Department of Public Services and the Cebu Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team to deploy their personnel in schools immediately after the elections last night.

DPS and CESET personnel will be prioritizing the schools first while the major clean-up which will include the removal of campaign posters, streamers and other materials along the streets will be on Saturday.

"I reminded our street sweepers to be focused on eskwelahan. Tomorrow I wish that the city will be clean especially within the perimeter where election activities have occurred," Rama said.

Rama admitted he was disappointed to know that the DPS and other departments concerned did not have the Oplan or Operations Plan prepared in anticipation of the situation after the elections because he was expecting it.

"So ako na lang ang ni-take sa cudgel. Naa sila'y 24-hour notice, when the time I relayed the instruction," he said.

He said he will mobilize all the City Hall offices and will invite more volunteers to rid the streets of campaign materials under the "Baranggayan, Bayanihan, Boluntirismo." The DPS also asked the help of each barangay in the major clean-up activity.

Less garbage however is expected to be collected compared to last May 10 general elections. The DPS collects over 100 tons of garbage every after elections. (FREEMAN)