Cleanliness a priority during Sinulog

CEBU, Philippines - No one in the city’s sanitation team will take a day off until the Sinulog festivities are over.

“We issued a memorandum to all CESET personnel that there will be no day off and no absences. There are seven teams deployed particularly   in  crowded  areas and we will be having a 24/7 special operations during the Sinulog activities,” said Grace Luardo, chief of the Cebu City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team. 

She urged the public to cooperate in helping make the city clean by throwing their trash into garbage bins and using the portable toilets (portalets) installed in areas expected to be frequented by crowds especially on the day of the Grand Parade on Sunday. 

Luardo said maintaining cleanliness is important not only to make the surroundings look good but, more importantly, to protect public health. The Grand Parade attracts huge crowds.

She said CESET will be strict in implementing environmental laws.

“Our advisory to the public is to follow strictly the policies set by the city like no smoking in all plazas, parks or any public areas, no littering and not to urinate just anywhere. We will not lift the environmental laws especially on this celebration with bigger crowd,” she said.

At least three ordinan-ces in Cebu City uphold cleanliness – City Ordinance 1361 or “An ordinance establishing a system of garbage collection, imposing fees therefor, and appropriating funds and for other related purposes,” City Ordinance 2031 or “An Ordinance for the Implementation of Solid Waste Segregation at Source,” and City Ordinance 2241 or “The Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of the City of Cebu.”

Luardo said enforcing environmental policies strictly is in accordance with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which mandates local government units to protect, preserve and conserve ecosystem by adopting a “systematic, integrated and ecological solid waste management programs.”

“For violating City Ordinances 1361 and 2031 and RA 9003, they will have to pay P500 for settlement pay so that they will not face complaints and first offenders can attend community services,” she said.

Those who violate the anti-smoking ordinance will be fined P2,000.

Luardo also reminded 483 commercial establishments, including Sinulog booths near the Abellana National School, to follow the guidelines set by the Sinulog Foundation.

The guidelines are as follows: (1) Clean up area of responsibility five meters away from the perimeter of the store; (2) Waste collected in the premise should be placed in the proper containers for disposal; (3) Garbage should be properly segregated and properly sealed in a plastic bag; (4) Follow the proper schedule and disposal; (5) Strictly no smoking in public places; and (6) Be watchful of sca-vengers who litter out there garbage container.  (FREEMAN)