378 litterbugs, smokers fined

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team has issued citation tickets to 378 violators last Saturday for littering and smoking in different cemeteries in the city.

CESET head Grace Luardo said about 200 of the 378 violators were apprehended violating City Ordinance 2241 or “The Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of the City of Cebu” while the rest violated City Ordinance 1361 or “An establishing a system of garbage collection, imposing fees therefor, and appropriating funds and for other related purposes.”

Luardo said the violators were either caught smoking, spitting, littering, and urinating in public places.

At least 196 violators were apprehended at the Carreta Cemetery, which is one of the busiest cemeteries in the city. Meanwhile, 73 were caught at the Calamba Cemetery, 62 were caught at the Barrio Luz Cemetery, 18 at the Pardo Cemetery, two at the Talamban Public Cemetery, and two at the Labangon Cemetery.

Luardo advised those issued with citation tickets to pay the fines today to avoid being sued.

“Pwede ra gyod mo-adto sila sa opisina para ma-settle ang ilang problema kay daghan man paagi kon wala silay ikabayad para sa settlement fees,” she said.

Those apprehended for violating City Ordinance 2241 are fined P1,500 while those caught violating City Ordinance 1361 are fined P500.

Luardo said that CESET has two months to prepare the filing of complaints against violators.

“This is not about sa money nga ilang ibayad para sa settlement fees ang amoa diri is disiplina ug ang pagpakabana sa environment kay mobalik ra gyod ni nato,” she said.

Luardo said tickets were also issued to violators yesterday, Sunday, but she is yet to get the total number.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Rama commended workers from CESET, Barangay Environmental Office, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management, Department of Public Service, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement, among others, for helping make the observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day successful.

“Everybody was doing their job. Good job,” Rama said.

CITOM operations head Jonathan Tumulak said the traffic situation in Cebu City over the weekend was more manageable compared to last year, attributing the same to ample preparation.

He said traffic congestions were more prominent near the Calamba and Carreta Cemeteries, the busiest cemeteries in the city. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/JMO (FREEMAN)