Security forces join Miss Earth beauties in post-election clean-up

MANILA, Philippines - Security forces yesterday took part in a post-election activities by cleaning up the mess left by last Monday’s historic vote.

Under the “Healthy, Orderly, and Pollution-Free Environment (HOPE),” around 1,500 soldiers participated in a massive three-day clean-up drive to remove posters and campaign materials around Metro Manila.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos said Air Force personnel were deployed in the cities of Parañaque, Makati, Pasay and Las Piñas.

Navy personnel, on the other hand, were deployed to clean up the streets of Taguig, Pateros and Manila.

The Army was tasked to clean up Mandaluyong, Pasig and Marikina while reservists were called for duty to take part in the clean-up of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela City.

Troops stationed at AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo took part in clean-up operations in Quezon City and San Juan.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) also joined the effort by assisting personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the clean-up drive.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said all available police personnel would be deployed for the nationwide clean-up drive as part of the PNP’s athletic period.

“We wanted to assist in the clean-up of campaign posters and streamers without disrupting normal office operations,” Bartolome said.

The MMDA took the initiative yesterday by deploying personnel from its Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group.

MMDA chairman Oscar Inocentes called on winning and losing candidates to participate in the clean-up.

Beauty queens led by Miss Philippines-Earth 2010 Kris Psyche Resus spearheaded a clean-up drive in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City yesterday.

Supporters of presidential frontrunner Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III also took part in the clean-up drive with the beauty queens.

Other groups like Akbayan, Buklod Tao, Citizens’ Organization Concerned with Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Health Care Without Harm, Kupkop Kita Kabayan Foundation, Malayang Tinig ng Kababaihan sa Komunidad, November 17 Movement, Sagip Pasig Movement, Sining Yapak and Zero Waste Philippines also took part in the cleaning.

The groups segregated tarpaulins and posters, selling them to a junk shop in the area.

The MMDA said the tarpaulins and posters would be collected for recycling.

MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said they would distribute the tarpaulins to farmers to cover their rice harvests while being dried under the sun. With Michael Punongbayan, Mike Frialde