Belmonte vows to fix QC trash problem

Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. vowed yesterday to rid Quezon City of garbage if he wins the city’s mayoralty post in next month’s elections.

Belmonte, who is seeking the mayoralty under the administration People Power Coalition, said he will do the seemingly impossible job in his first 200 days as mayor.

He said he will get city residents involved in a no-nonsense clean-up campaign.

"The people will cooperate when they see that government is dead serious about cleanliness and sanitation. Nothing is impossible when everybody will move," he said.

He added that his administration would enlist the people’s involvement in the clean-up campaign through the planned Quezon City Development Council.

Residents have had to live with trash in their streets which have been piling up due to lack of dumping sites.

Belmonte said there has to be a viable solution to the garbage problem other than continuing to operate the Payatas dump, which collapsed last year, burying hundreds of dump dwellers.

"We will transform Payatas into an environment-friendly community where residents can live productively and in peace. Payatas cannot be a garbage dump forever," he said. He said the tragedy that had struck the dumping site should not happen again.

The planned development council would be composed of representatives from various sectors, including labor, youth, women, religious groups, non-government organizations, professionals, and other groups.

It is envisioned to be a vehicle through which the city government can consult residents on policies and programs, and get their involvement in their implementation.

Belmonte’s program of government is anchored on good governance, transparency, accountability, effective fiscal administration, and efficient delivery of basic services.

He is running with reelectionist Vice Mayor Connie Angeles and a complete congressional and city council ticket. – Jess Diaz