"Mutya" winner leads Mactan cleanup drive

CEBU, Philippines – Mutya ng Pilipinas second runner-up Sharon Grace Angel yesterday morning led the cleanup drive held in barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City in support of Mayor Paz Radaza's program called "Manglimpyo Ta," a city-wide cleanup drive aimed at preventing the spread of dengue.

Angel told reporters that the best antidote against dengue is a clean environment urging residents to always clean their environment to help stop the spread of dengue.

As the ambassador of the "Island Experience" campaign, a domestic tourism program initiated by the city, she said it is also important that cleanliness is maintained to at-tract more tourists.

Barangay Mactan was declared a hot spot by DOH. Three barangays in Lapu Lapu namely Pajo, Basak and Looc are now on the epidemic threshold.

The clean-up drive was also attended by barangay officials and city councilors Harry Don Radaza and Lea Dignos Vidal.

"Oponganons know the importance of a clean environment. The challenge is how to sustain the cleanup drive," Radaza said.

As the spread of dengue threatens the city, there is no room for complacency," he said.

Majority of the city barangays also   will conduct their own cleanup drives on Saturday.

Some barangay officials have formed a task force that would identify dengue prone areas.

They also intensified the issuance of citation tickets to residents who indiscriminately dispose of their garbage. (FREEMAN)