Discipline zones

CEBU, Philippines — The Task Force (TF) Gubat sa Baha has identified at least four barangays as “discipline zones” to exact accountability among residents living along the rivers who continue to indiscriminately throw their trash.

These four barangays include Sto. Niño, Parian, Tinago and San Roque, as per instructions from Mayor Mike Rama.

These four barangays are highly populated and have since been problematic, especially during heavy rainfall.

TF Gubat sa Baha’s deputy commander, retired Colonel Jefferson Omandam, said the declaration aims to protect the rivers traversing the four barangays by penalizing those caught throwing trash along the creeks.

“Anybody caught throwing anything sa mga sapa will suffer the full force of the law,” said Omandam, as reported by the city’s PIO.

Such a move is highly supported by the rest of the city and barangay officials, as they also hope this will finally discipline the residents living along the rivers from throwing their garbage directly to these waterways.

Aside from that, TF-Gubat sa Baha’s working group is also gearing up for the resumption of the demolition of structures, whether government or privately owned, that are encroaching along rivers.

The mayor wants the demolition of structures that “didn’t require any relocation” as soon as possible.

Mayor Rama went around the heavily flooded area as soon as he arrived from Russia last Monday.

The mayor, along with retired generals Roy Cimatu and Mel Feliciano, and with the TF-Gubat sa Baha and other concerned agencies, is set to do a walk-through along the city rivers and the heavily flooded areas before the month ends to finally address this pressing problem.

Flooding is a problem that is not only felt here, but globally as an effect of global warming. — (FREEMAN)