During Sinulog: Food shops told to take charge of their garbage

CEBU, Philippines - With the expected volume of foreign and domestic visitors who will flock the city to watch and partake in the Sinulog celebration, Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella reminded  fastfood shops, restaurants, eateries and other similar business establishments to refrain from dumping their garbage on the streets and sidewalks.

Labella, chairman of the committee on laws of the City Council, said the rise of business activities of the food-oriented entities during the Sinulog celebration infers the increase of garbage dumped on the sidewalks especially within the commercial districts located in the midtown, downtown and uptown areas of the city.

Labella noted that waste and garbage emanating from the establishments are food leftovers, plastic and styrofoam usually packed in plastic and dumped overnight on a sidewalk or street will be scattered by scavengers or stray animals.

The scattered garbage on the sidewalks may end up clogging the drainage system especially during this monsoon season, he added.

“It would really help make Cebu City more presentable and look livable during the Sinulog celebration if the concerned government agency tasked to collect garbage will be aided by the said private business entities by way of not dumping their garbage on the streets or sidewalks,” Labella said, in his proposed resolution.  

 The councilor reminded the business establishments on the existing City Ordinance No. 1361, which mandates that commercial buildings should have receptacles or storage areas for garbage which could not be accessed by scavengers and stray dogs, or scattered away by wind or rain.

 Under City Ordinance 2031, the households and commercial buildings are prohibited from taking their garbage out in the streets until garbage collection time.   (FREEMAN NEWS)