Barangay-based responders tapped for Oplan Disiplina

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government will seek the help of barangay responders for the full implementation of Oplan Disiplina, especially in monitoring and ensuring that the people will not throw their garbage on the rivers under their jurisdiction.

This was disclosed by Raquel Arce, officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), during the City Hall’s Panaghisgot Forum yesterday.

Arce said every barangay has 10 responders who could assist the city government in its Gubat sa Baha program considering that they are knowledgeable about their respective areas.

She added that these responders will be deputized as City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team (CESET) enforcers so that they could issue citation tickets to the violators of the ordinances and other orders involving the environment.

“Although wa pa sila kahibawo niini, but we are planning nga ato silang i-meet. Unya og asa sila nga barangay na-belong, adto ra sad sila nga river ma-assign unya didto sila, ila i-sustain og unsa na’y sitwasyon sa river,” said Arce.

“But before that, ang nagkalain-laing mga river commanders are tasked sad sa pag establisar sa 3-meter easement unya after that, ang atoang mga base responders mao nay mo-sustain,” she added.

With this, a close coordination between the barangay-based responders and the designated “river commanders” of the city government is necessary.

“Ang paglabay sa basura (sa kasapaan), kung naa kay disiplina, di gyud na nimo pagabuhaton. So, anha sad diha moapil ang atoang mga barangay-base responders,” said Arce.

Arce said that one of the main reasons of flooding in the city is the indiscriminate disposal of garbage in the rivers.

To recall, at least eight city officials were designated as river commanders for each of the city’s major rivers and waterways.

These commanders are given the authority to hold meetings with barangay officials and their assigned departments, as well as to supervise and monitor operations related to the city’s river rehabilitation activities.

The commanders are lawyer Gerardo Carillo for the Bulacao River; Grace Luardo, Kinalumsan River; Dr. Ester Concha, Tagunol Creek; Engr. Rolando Ardosa, Guadalupe River; Paul Gotiong, Mahiga River; Engr. Joelito Baclayon, Lahug River; Arce, Estero Pari-an; and Arlie Gesta, Butuanon River.

The river commanders are also directed to identify all residents and businesses located in their assigned areas.

This, for the city government to have a list of those who actually violated the three-meter easement rule for waterways, so they could also have an estimate of the number of beneficiaries for the socialized housing program.

The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) was directed to validate this list that will be submitted by all river commanders. — GMR (FREEMAN)