25 tons of trash hauled in clean-up drive

CEBU, Philippines —  An estimated 25 tons of thrash were collected from the first quarter city-wide clean-up drive over the weekend initiated by the Cebu City government over the weekend, according to Department of Public Services chief, lawyer Jigo Dacuaan.

Mayor Michael Rama reminded employees to keep service alive by staying clean with their work and their surroundings.

Before the actual clean-up, Rama talked to the employees from different departments to emphasize the importance of the activity.

“We cannot keep service alive if our coastal (area) is dirty… We cannot keep the services alive if our water alleys are terrible. We cannot keep service alive if our rivers are in an unimaginable state. Let’s all be one. Let’s all be one,” he said.

Rama also said that cleanliness does not only mean having clean environment but a clean being.

He hinted of a “lifestyle” check among City Hall employees as part of being “clean.”

“Ang uban mamalit og mga yuta, naa sa gobyerno. Ayaw mog sunod ana. Makita gyud na nako, labi pag naay fiesta unya inyo kong imbetahon. Ang akong mata, pirting abtika gyud. Unya dili ka OFW, wala kay negosyo. Diin man kag kwarta?” said Rama.

The mayor recalled how they were raised by their parents with integrity.

“Prangka kaayo kong pagkaawo. Akong pagtubo, tae… Tae sa baboy, tae sa manok, tae sa iro, tae sa itoy. Mao nay among gitubuan. Paglimpyo gani, I want you to be proud to be in air-conditioned (office) at City Hall. I want you to be significant in your growing as citizens of the City of Cebu,” he said.

As public servants, Rama said, it is just right that employees are involved in the clean-up, aside from doing their respective jobs well in the City Hall.

“Public servant gani mo, serbisyo publiko, walay pili, dili kay butangan ug pulitika,” Rama said.

Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros spearheaded that clean-up initiative last weekend. —  JMD (FREEMAN)