EDITORIAL - Cleaning up

Across the country, clean-up drives are conducted by different national and local government agencies, often during special days related to the environment, or after a powerful typhoon sends ashore tons of garbage.

On Jan. 6, President Marcos launched his administration’s cleanliness campaign, with the acronym Kalinisan – for Kalinga at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Bayan. During its weekend launch, 580,000 civilian volunteers plus 109,939 government personnel in 9,189 participating barangays across the country reportedly collected over 2.6 million kilos of trash.

The ceremonial launch was held at the Baseco Compound in Manila, coinciding with the annual observance of Community Development Day. How many people are aware of that day? Any cleanliness campaign in this country must be accompanied by a sustained solid waste management and modern sanitation program. Baseco in Manila’s Port Area along with neighboring Tondo are home to some of the most extensive informal settlements in the country, where there is no efficient system of garbage collection and many dwellings lack modern toilets and sanitation.

Solid waste management is inadequate or inefficient even in many communities that are not in slum areas.  The country lacks garbage bins in public areas, even in crowded urban centers. This encourages littering. Many wet markets, which regularly generate huge amounts of trash, lack garbage receptacles or an efficient system of waste disposal. Even in Metro Manila, many wet markets also lack piped water for cleaning stalls and aisles. Little wonder that many markets across the country are infested with rodents and cockroaches. In other countries, wet markets are tourist destinations.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government will give recognition every quarter to local government units that will efficiently implement the Kalinisan program. The DILG also wants LGUs to pass ordinances requiring those caught littering to render community service. Such ordinances must be accompanied by measures to encourage cleanliness and proper waste disposal, such as the provision of trash receptacles and efficient garbage collection.

Some countries have pet waste stations for those walking their dogs. Such stations include a garbage bin and a dispenser of poop bags for picking up after one’s pet. LGUs may consider installing such stations in parks and other areas frequented by those who walk their pets.

Kalinisan shouldn’t be another seasonal cleanup, but a sustained campaign driven by a different mindset in dealing with garbage disposal. Clean surroundings must be maintained even without special programs or special days.