Be heroes for the environment

CEBU, Philippines -  It does not need a war for people to be heroes. One only has to throw garbage properly and protect the environment.

This, in essence, was the message of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama during yesterday’s celebration of the Araw ng Kagitingan. He was the guest speaker in a simple celebration in front of the Heroes Monument at the Plaza Independencia.

Instead of recalling the history of the “The Fall of Bataan” in 1942, the 56-year-old mayor focused his speech on the City’s strict implementation of proper waste disposal in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and City Ordinance 2031.

The country commemorated yesterday the events of April 9, 1942 wherein against the orders of Generals Douglas MacArthur and Jonathan Wainwright, Major General Edward King, Jr., the commander of Luzon Force, surrendered more than 76,000 starving and sick men composed of some 67,000 Filipinos, 1,000 Filipino-Chinese and 11,796 Americans.

Many prisoners of war were robbed of their belongings and forced to endure a 140-kilometer march. Thousands of them died from dehydration, untreated wounds and wanton execution. Retired Colonel Manuel Segurra recalled that prisoners were beaten randomly and often denied food and water. Those who fell were executed or left to die so the sides of the roads were littered with dead bodies and those moaning for assistance.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, chairman of the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission, said the people should value the sacrifices of our heroes. On the Bataan Death March, approximately 54,000 of the 72,000 prisoners reached their destination. The death toll of the march was difficult to assess because thousands of captives were able to escape from their guards.

In his speech, Rama said many of us may also be considered heroes by showing love for our country. He says he is dismayed to see garbage thrown into creeks, rivers and the sea, a manifestation of people’s lack of concern for the environment.

Senior citizens who listened to Rama agreed that it is now time to be strict in implementing garbage segregation.

Since last week, the Inayawan sanitary landfill has been closed already to unsegregated garbage. More than 200 individuals and seven barangays were issued citations for violating the provisions of Republic Act 9003.

“Kon magsigi ta’g pataka og labay sa atong mga hugaw unya mapunta sa sapa, dayon sa dagat ug kan-on sa mga isda, unya ang isda atong lutoon ug butangan og mantika, lami kaayo,” Rama said, evoking laughter from the 2,000 people attending the event. (FREEMAN)