Camanava vice mayors push for common anti-pollution ordinance

MANILA, Philippines - All vice mayors in the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela (Camanava) district have forged an alliance to craft a common environment protection ordinance to address the problem of water and air pollution in the area.

Caloocan Vice Mayor Edgar Erice said the city council of each of the cities will initiate the same ordinance when the local legislative bodies convene next week.

“The common environment protection ordinance seeks to put more teeth to campaign against illegal garbage dumping and the pollution of waterways in northern Manila,” he said.

Erice said Vice mayors Antolin Oreta of Malabon, Patrick Joseph Javier of Navotas and Eric Martinez of Valenzuela had an initial meeting over the weekend and they agreed to work together for the enactment of the common ordinance to spur development in the northern Manila area.

Erice said among the salient features of the common ordinance is the penal provision that imposes stiff penalties and a prison term, including community services to people found guilty of environmental degradation.

He said the perennial flooding – triggered by improper garbage disposal and the unfinished flood control program in the area – compounds the environment problem in Camanava.