Ouano to Mandaue residents: Do your part

CEBU, Philippines — After a man was caught illegally dumping garbage into a river, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano intensified his appeal for proper waste disposal, calling on residents to do their part in keeping the city clean.

In an interview with reporters, Ouano said the city government had already summoned the man responsible for throwing garbage into the waterway near the A. Soriano Barangay Centro Bridge on Monday, June 8, 2026.

During the meeting, officials learned that the man was a laborer working for a vendor at the Mandaue City Public Market and had allegedly been instructed to dispose of the trash.

Ouano said the individual was penalized by the city for the violation and was also called in by the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office (MCENRO).

“Gipabayad nato og P5,000 nga fine and nibayad gyud sila,” said Ouano.

Following the incident, Ouano reiterated his appeal to residents to be responsible and help maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the city.

“Ako gyud ning gibalik-balik permi sa atong mga kaigsuonan sa City of Mandaue, mamalihug lang ko, muhangyo ko ninyo tagsa-tagsa nga magtinabangay tang tanan,” said Ouano.

The mayor admitted that the city government cannot achieve this goal on its own, particularly when it comes to maintaining cleanliness and order throughout the city.

“Di gyud namo kaya nga kami lang,” he said, emphasizing that residents’ cooperation is essential.

Ouano said that while Mandauehanons want a clean city, achieving that goal would be impossible without a collective effort.

“Ganahan ta malimpyo atong syudad pero kung di ta mag tinabangay dili nato badlungon atong mga silingan, atong mga anak, nga naa man tay saktong basurahan nga adto lang ilabay, kita ra sad ang ma affected,” the mayor lamented.

“Ari ra ba dayon ta kusug mureklamo sa social media,” Ouano added.

The mayor said the issue goes beyond waste disposal and also includes vandalism and traffic violations, which he said stem from a lack of discipline within the community.

He added that these are simple rules that residents only need to follow to help maintain a clean and orderly city.

“Gihimo man ning mga balaora for a reason, para naa tay order diri sa atong syudad,” said Ouano.

“Kay again dili gyud namo kaya tanan,” he added.

Ouano then urged residents to cooperate with the city government. He said that if violations are not captured by CCTV cameras, residents may report them anonymously through the Mandaue Public Affairs social media page.

“Mao lang na atoa ganahan mi og tabang sa tanan, to all of us to be involved because this is our city,” said Ouano.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Mandaue Command Center head Arnold Malig-on said the incident was monitored by a CCTV operator at around 6 p.m. on June 8.

At least three sacks of garbage were reportedly thrown into the waterway.

The incident was immediately reported to MCENRO.

Following an investigation by MCENRO, authorities learned that the individual involved was merely carrying out instructions from vendors at the public market.

Malig-on said the man allegedly has a mental disability but is often tasked by vendors with running errands, including disposing of their garbage.

The Command Center chief said the incident serves as a reminder that the city is closely monitoring activities through its surveillance system. He noted that the Command Center’s responsibilities extend beyond road and traffic incidents and also include monitoring violations and other activities involving residents. — (FREEMAN)