This preschooler enjoys using his umbrella, which features his favorite cartoon character. The southwest monsoon, or habagat, is still affecting many areas of the Philippines, particularly in the Cordillera region, and will continue to deliver rain in the coming days. **photo by neimless_skills
Mayor Benjamin Magalong is looking at further increasing the penalties for littering and illegal disposal of solid and liquid waste to help deter violators and safeguard the city from environmental hazards brought about by improper waste disposal.
“Sometimes we need drastic measures to effect the change that we want to accomplish. It’s frustrating that some people remain unconcerned despite our efforts to clean up our lagoon to prevent flooding and to clean up our waterways to prevent pollution. We need to do something to change their mindset but we also need to do something to compel them to comply with the law,” the mayor said.
At present, the city’s Anti-Littering Ordinance (Ordinance No. 54-1988 as amended by Ordinance No. 59-2020) imposes penalties of fines ranging from P1,000-5,000 or community service of up to 36 hours for individuals and fines of P3,000-P5,000 with suspension and revocation of business permits for establishments.
The punishable acts are spitting, or expectorating, discharging mucus from the nose, urinating, defecating, vomiting, throwing, dumping, leaving or scattering “pieces of paper, peelings, cigarette or tobacco butts, soil or any kind of refuse or garbage in public places such as parks, streets, plazas, lagoons, lakes, brooks, roads, canals, alleys, fences, walls, markets and inside public buildings or enclosures which are open to the public.”
The ordinance also prohibits throwing or dumping “garbage, waste matter, refuse, urine, used oil, used paint, water used from painting, cleaning and car washing, human waste and substances whether solid or liquid into canals, drainage systems, sewerage systems, curbs and gutters, creeks, rivers, tributaries, rivulets, and other natural waterways including lakes, lagoons, catch basins and other natural bodies of water.
The ordinance also requires owners of buildings abutting on streets to provide receptacles on sidewalks for use of the public.
“Owners or commercial and industrial establishments such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, cinema housee, stores, transportation companies, universities, colleges, schools and other similar institutions and owners or administrators of commercial and residential lots shall be obliged to keep their areas and surroundings as well as abutting roads, drainage canals, curbs and gutters, alleys and other passageways and their immediate premises clean,” the ordinance mandates.
These establishments are to be inspected anytime during regular business hours by law enforcers.
The measure also mandates “every person in any place, plaza, park, street, garden and similar public areas to pick up litter, garbage or any debris near him.”
“Any person neglecting and refusing to do so upon orders by police officers and/or persons specially deputized to enforce the ordinance shall be penalized…” ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
