Sinulog garbage lesser this year than last

CEBU, Philippines - While garbage remains a problem after every Sinulog Grand Parade, what was collected this year is actually almost 50 percent less than last year’s.

Cebu City Department of Public Services Chief Dionisio Gualiza said the over three million revelers who witnessed the grand parade left 110 tons of trash after last Sunday’s Sinulog celebration.

That is still a lot of garbage, but the volume is 43.3 percent less than the 194 tons DPS gathered all across the city after the celebration following the Sinulog Grand Parade in 2015.

"I'm quite glad that this year’s collection was lesser compared to the previous years; but let us not stop educating the public," Gualiza said.

Garbage weighing 110 tons is still a lot, which is why Gualiza said the city would continue educating the public and enforcing the city ordinances on proper segregation and recycling.

“A series of educational campaigns have been carried out by the city government on proper waste disposal,” he said.

The bulk of the trash was at the vicinity of the Basilica del Sto. Niño, Plaza Independencia, Fuente Osmeña, General Maxilom Avenue, Colon Street, D. Jakosalem Street, and N. Bacalso Avenue.

DPS deployed around 500 personnel to clean the streets after the celebration, assisted by barangay environmental officers and volunteers.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Environmental Sanitation enforcement Team reported that it issued citation tickets to over 938 persons for smoking, littering, and urinating in public places from 4 p.m. last Sunday to 3 a.m. yesterday.

CESET had warned the public that the city will be strictly enforcing existing regulations to maintain cleanliness in the city and protect public health.

Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000) mandates that local government units protect, preserve and conserve the ecosystem by adopting a “systematic, integrated and ecological solid waste management programs.”

In response, the Cebu City government passed City Ordinances 1361 (An Ordinance Establishing a System of Garbage Collection, Imposing Fees Therefor, and Appropriating Funds and for Other Related Purposes); 2031 (An Ordinance for the Implementation of Solid Waste Segregation at Source), and 2241 (The Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of the City of Cebu).

Luardo advised those who were issued tickets but did not pay the compromise fee to report to their office and pay the corresponding fines to avoid being issued with warrants of arrest later on. — /RHM (FREEMAN)