Ordinance imposes fines on public urinating, littering

CEBU, Philippines - A special task force has been created in Talisay City to strengthen the enforcement of laws on littering.

Officials said the task force will look after those who will throw candy wrappers, cigarette butts and other forms of trash in spots other than trash cans and unsanitary disposal of solid waste facilities in the city.

This after Mayor Johnny De los Reyes revived the implementation of an anti-littering ordinance as part of his environmental awareness campaign.

In yesterday's press conference, De los Reyes said he created a team to carry out a sustained anti-littering campaign in the implementation of national and local laws on waste dumping and apprehension and prosecution of violators.

He added that environmental offenders will be meted with fines and community service.

"There is an urgent need to create a task force which will focus and concentrate its effort in enforcing the various laws related to the city's solid waste management policy," the mayor stressed.

The city ordinance penalizes, among other things, littering, failing to clean a dirty frontage, illegal dumping, illegal disposal of garbage, abandoning construction debris, urinating and defecating in public places and obstructing sidewalks and waterways.

The said ordinance carried a penalty of P300 in fine for first offense or three-day community service; P500 for second offense and P1,000  and 15-day community service for third offense.

De los Reyes said he created the task force to oversee compliance and putting up of trash cans and waste bins in strategic places within the city. (FREEMAN)