BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved a proposed resolution encouraging all public transportation companies plying along the highways and operating within the city’s jurisdiction to provide visible and secured garbage or trash bins in their staging areas.
The resolution authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated that to help ease the tremendous pressure on the local government, private entities should be encouraged to join hands with the city in its effort to preserve what is left of the city’s clean and healthy environment, thus, the public utility vehicles and jeepneys plying along the city’s main roads should also play a part in the city’s waste management and recycling programs.
The resolution added that as a Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts, Baguio City envisions the participation of the general public to efforts to inculcate creativity for sustainable urban development, thus, the various staging areas for the transport groups should be strict against unsightly nature and help keep the city clean.
“Natural beauty is a legacy and a right for future generations and conserving it for their benefit is our responsibility at present,” Yangot stressed.
The resolution noted the rich cultural heritage, majestic sceneries and year-round cool climate of the city has endeared the hearts of millions of holiday makers who acclaim about their unique experience everytime they visit the country’s undisputed Summer Capital, however, the unique experience is slowly evaporating due to the criticisms against some parts of the city, particularly the proliferation of garbage during holidays, prolonged weekends and special events hosted by the local government and the private sector, thus, responsible and effective waste management could help conserve the beauty that Baguio City has been known for over the past several decades.
According to the resolution, the education of the populace towards the prevention of littering, particularly in major landmarks and places of interest within the city limits, is still lacking despite the diligence and hard work of the local government’s streetsweepers patrolling the populated areas daily collecting more or less 5 sacks of waste per shift under favourable conditions.
The resolution pointed out garbage receptacles properly placed and well maintained can dramatically improve the health and appearance of the city compared to beat-up trash bins, thus, the introduction of visible garbage containers and bins contributes to the significant decline of unwanted street litter and lessens the city’s street cleaning problems as people will be compelled to drop their litters in the proper and available bins around the city.
The resolution asserted people should not allow stray animals to thrive on left overs and that the same should not be allowed to tear a garbage bag in their hunt for food as these contribute to the proliferation of unwanted litters around the city, thus, the urgent need for the timely installation of appropriate garbage bins and receptacles in strategic transport terminals to instil discipline among the public on proper disposal of waste.
By Dexter A. See
