Storeowners asked to help clean up along parade route

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Public Services head Dionesio Gualiza is asking the owners of business establishments within the carousel route of the Sinulog grand parade on Sunday to help clean up their surroundings.

City Ordinance 1361 or the so-called “Garbage Ordinance” of Cebu City provides that the owners of establishments and residential houses are mandated to maintain cleanliness in areas at least five meters within its premises.

Those who fail to comply with the provision of the ordinance may face sanctions that include an imprisonment of not more than one year and a fine of not more than P5,000.

Gualiza explained that if only establishment owners instruct their personnel not to throw or place their waste beside the road before the arrival of the garbage trucks, they can greatly help maintain cleanliness.

Mayor Michael Rama instructed Gualiza to see to it that the DPS personnel will immediately clean the city of garbage, particularly within the carousel route, after the Sinulog grand parade.

Gualiza said he sees no problem accomplishing the task as only two job order employees of the DPS were not rehired at the start of this year.

During the previous Sinulog grand parade, the DPS personnel and other volunteers gathered tons of waste from the Sinulog parade route.

The carousel route is from the Cebu City Sports Center to P. Del Rosario St., Imus Ave., Gen. Maxilom Ave., Fuente Osmeña, Osmeña Blvd. then back to the sports center.

For the past few years, each of the DPS personnel and other volunteers who participated in the clean-up immediately after the Sinulog grand parade were given a sack of rice each as reward for a job well done. – (FREEMAN)