BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan expressed concern over the rapid deterioration of the discipline of people who deliberately scatter their self-generated waste in public places during the conduct of the twin highlights of the 23rd edition of the Panagbenga or the Baguio flower festival, the grand streetdancing parade and the grand float parade last week.
The local chief executive said despite the repeated announcements in the public address systems around the parade route and in the convergence areas, people still left their garbage in the places whether they were positioned right after the conduct of the twin parades.
“It took our assigned streetsweepers and volunteers some time to clear our roads, sidewalks and parks from the huge volume of garbage that were left by the millions of spectators that flocked to our city to witness the two major highlights of the flower festival. We still need to do our homework in educating ourselves to observe the highest degree of discipline in whatever situation that confront us so that we known what to do when confronted with whatever situation,” Domogan stressed.
He admitted that there was a significant increase in the volume of garbage that was generated in the city during the conduct of the twin highlights of the flower festival but the assigned personnel and the volunteers were able to do their job pursuant to what we expected but if there is cooperation and discipline among the residents and visitors, then the assigned personnel should not have a difficult time dealing with the situation.
According to him, there is still a long way for residents and visitors to realize the degree of discipline required from them so that they will be able to act with dispatch in dealing with the various situations that confront them in the future.
Domogan explained garbage disposal is one of the major problems confronting the local government that is why the utmost cooperation of everyone is required, especially in the proper disposal of their generated waste not only inside their homes but also in the conduct of the twin major festival highlights.
Observers informed the mayor that despite the repeated announcements done in the public address systems for people to take with them their garbage after the parade and properly dispose the same in available garbage bins around the city, spectators positioned along the parade route and even at the Baguio Athletic Bowl and Melvin Jones football ground simply stood up after the conclusion of the twin parades and left their garbage on the areas where they were positioned that resulted to the existence of a temporary eye sore in most parts of the central business district area.
He called on responsible citizens of the city to continue informing and educating their fellow residents and visitors on the proper disposal of their garbage and how to deal with similar situations in the future to help in efforts to instill discipline among the people for them to adhere to existing rules and regulations in the disposal of their generated waste.
Domogan expressed confidence that people will realize the importance of being obedient residents and visitors and that their simple garbage disposal practices will contribute in efforts to help address the city’s garbage disposal woes.
By Dexter A. See
