Old garbage habits must die — Tiangco

The municipal government of Navotas yesterday stepped up its garbage collection effort by a stricter implementation of the "no segregation, no collection" policy.

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco said it will take some time for the idea of segregation and recycling for a better environment to sink in among the local residents so a constant reminder is a must.

"It will take some time to discard old habits since the people are pretty set in their ways but his has to change. Aside from the fact that this is the law, it is also best for the health of the populace, not to mention the monetary gains from recycling," the mayor said.

Tiangco said that apart from the regular effort by the town’s green garbage trucks, narrow alleys are not to be spared in the "door-to-door" collection of garbage.

Mini-collection equipment manned by the Environmental Sanitation Office (ESO) "Kalat-busters" and barangay ecoboys will sweep through all the 14 barangays of the town.

The campaign, Tiangco said, is part of the local government’s "Kilos Kalinisan" initiative. He said it is in line with the provisions of Republic Act 9003 requiring households as well as commercial and business establishments to segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and put them in separate bags for collection on a regular basis.

Tiangco also said the municipal government has deployed a 500-man street sweeping group for an efficient clean-up of the town.

"The program continues to be an indicator of our concern for order and for the health of our residents and for the environment," Tiangco said.

Navotas has been adjudged the Cleanest and Greenest Municipality in Metro Manila by the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran (GPK) for three consecutive years in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Door-to-door garbage collection has also been set Monday-Wednesday-Friday in District 1 and Tanza from 6 to 8 a.m. (biodegaradable); Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday in District 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. (biodegradable); and Sunday at 6 to 8 a.m. for District 1 and 6 to 9 p.m. for District 2 (non-biodegradables).

Tiangco said any person who fails to comply with he order will be paying fines of at least P200 to a high of P2,500 aside from cancellation of business permits or imprisonment of up to six months.