BUGUIAS, Benguet– The Department of Public Works and Highways – Second Benguet District (DPWH-SBED) urged motorists not to unscrupulously dump their waste or garbage along the stretch of Halsema Highway to help in sustaining the cleanliness along the major roadline in the central Cordillera.
SDPWH-SBED District Engineer Alexander Castañeda stated that maintenance personnel observed that there had been assorted waste that had been or are being dumped by motorists along various portions of the road that have contributed in the proliferation of solid waste that affect the implementation of the agency’s beautification campaign in strategic areas of its area of jurisdiction.
He claimed that based on the observation of the agency’s maintenance personnel, the numerous waste that are scattered along the roadline are allegedly dumped by unscrupulous motorists who pass through the road in going to and from their places of origin and destination.
The district engineer pointed out that the cooperation of the motorists in maintaining the cleanliness along the roadline is important because the agency is doing its part in trying to implement the beautification campaign that will make the travel of people fulfilling because of the presence of worthy areas where they could drop by and enjoy the scenery and the beautified areas.
According to him, there is also a need for local governments along the Halsema Highway to strictly enforce their respective solid waste management programs to ensure that unscrupulous motorists will be penalized for their act of illegally dumping their waste in any portion of the Halsema Highway aside from the penalties that may be imposed by the agency once their maintenance personnel will be able to apprehend them for such illegal act.
Castañeda emphasized that motorists should learn to practice cleanliness inside and outside their homes and vehicles for them to be able to adhere to the Biblical passage that provides that ‘cleanliness is next to godliness.’ that is why they should not wilfully dump their garbage in any portion of the Halsema Highway.
The DPWH-SBED also called on the personnel of the different municipal police stations along Halsema Highway to intensify their presence in strategic portions of the road to be able to apprehend unscrupulous motorists who continue to dump their waste on the road as their contribution in maintaining the cleanliness of the highway.
He was able to successfully implement the cleanliness of highways within the jurisdiction of the DPWH – First Mountain Province Engineering District where he was earlier assigned before being transferred to the DPWH-SBED where he will be serving the remaining months of his service to the government before retiring by the end of the year.
The district engineer expressed optimism on the adherence of the motorists to the cleanliness campaign being initiated by the agency because their contribution to the success of the said program will be in achieving the cleanliness of the highway for the benefit of both the motorists and the residents living in areas along the road. By HENT
