Bizmen urged: Help maintain cleanliness

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella has urged the business community to help maintain the cleanliness of the city in this time of the Sinulog Festivities.

Labella intends to pass a resolution for the City Council to formally request the business community to be responsible in the dumping of their garbage.

Labella said he had observed in the past Sinulog Festivals that some business establishments are indiscriminately throwing their wastes on the sidewalks.

According to Labella, these are not only unsanitary and eyesores to local and foreign visitors, it is causing drainage problems to the city.

“Aside from being an eyesore and a health threat, scattered garbage on the sidewalks may end up clogging the drainage system along the streets especially during this monsoon season,” Labella said.

He reminded the fast food and restaurant operators to do their shares in the maintenance of the cleanliness in the city. 

Labella wants that a copy of his resolution, as soon as it is passed, would be given to the members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to ensure proper dissemination.

 CCCI public information officer Marcelyn Cabildo promised to distribute the resolution to their member-companies as soon as they received it.

Labella said the announcement of Sinulog Foundation Inc. executive director Ricky Ballesteros that there will be more than two million people expected to attend this year’s Sinulog Festival is already good news for the businessmen.

He said the commercial establishments will benefit from the volume of people who will be coming to celebrate the Sinulog. Hence, they should return the favor to the government by keeping their surroundings clean.

Labella also reminded the businessmen of the existing City Ordinance No. 1361 that requires commercial buildings to provide receptacles or storage area for garbage.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Rama has instructed the Department of Public Services to ensure the cleanliness of the city all throughout the Sinulog period.

DPS chief Dionesio Gualiza already assured Rama that his men will be able to clean the city immediately after the Mardi Gras on Sunday.

In the past celebrations, DPS personnel gain praises for doing a good job. In fact, they were given by the city government sacks of rice as incentives.

It was not known, however, if Rama will give the same to the DPS personnel this year. —  (FREEMAN)