Mayor Greg Gastaya said the Bacolod City government will arrest persons caught littering in Bacolod City and enforce penalties as part of its stepped up campaign to clear waterways of trash to prevent flooding.
Gasataya, at a press conference on Monday, August 18, said he met with the heads of the City Legal Office and the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office to discuss the implementation of City Ordinance 531.
The anti-littering ordinance prohibits the littering of plastics, papers or any other refuse in open or public places, waterways and recreational areas, and provides corresponding penalties for violations.
Gasataya said he is also meeting with the city’s barangay captains and Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen to discuss their part in ensuring the ordinance is followed.
An information education drive will be conducted for about two weeks after which arrest will be made, Gasataya said.
He said the city government’s cleaning up of waterways will not work if Bacolod residents do not cooperate and continue littering.
Bacolod residents also have to do their share to prevent flooding, he said.
On Friday alone they removed 17 tons of garbage and silt from a waterway near the North terminal in Barangay Bata, he said.
He is also giving IPM-Construction and Development Corporation (IPM-CDC), the firm that collects Bacolod City’s garbage, until next week to submit its schedule of garbage collection in the barangays, Gasataya said.
City Ordinance 531 stresses the need to intensify the campaign on proper waste disposal to prevent ecological and environmental degradation, endangering public health, and causing floods.
Any person caught in violation shall, upon conviction, be fined P500 for the first offense , and P1,000 for every succeeding offenses and render community service.
Businesses who violate the ordinance shall be fined P1,000 for a first offence and P2,000 for succeeding offenses with a corresponding cancellation of licenses to operate business establishments.*