Environmental police force created in V’zuela

Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian ordered yesterday the creation of an environmental police force to effectively counter the city’s continuing problem against waste collection and disposal in its bid for a clean and healthy city.

"Task Force Disiplina (TFD)," composed of deputized members of City Hall’s Waste Management Police Group (WMPG) and appropriately called "the environmental police," is mandated to lead in instilling discipline among city residents by strictly implementing the city’s waste disposal program.

The task force was created through an executive order signed by Gatchalian yesterday to further give teeth to the city hall’s battle cry "Sa Valenzuela, May Disiplina."

"I am confident that the people of Valenzuela will support this effort towards maintaining our city’s cleanliness. No one else will stand to gain more from having a clean and healthy environment than ourselves," Gatchalian said.

The mayor said the city government’s target was a hundred percent efficiency in garbage collection.

He lauded his people at the WMPG for accomplishing the target through hard work, effective utilization of resources.

Gatchalian added that this was made possible also through the acquisition of all necessary equipment and maximizing manpower capabilities.

The acquisition of logistical equipment was part of a "buildup" program set in motion by the mayor early last year.

"But this is obviously not enough. To become one of the cleanest, if not the cleanest, cities in the country, we would certainly need the cooperation of each and every resident," Gatchalian said.

The task force is mandated to formulate policies and guidelines to properly and effectively implement the city’s waste management program, including waste segregation.

It is also tasked with ensuring the disposal of garbage in the 32 barangays in accordance with the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Act and its implementing rules and regulation.

The same group has been deputized by the mayor and is given the authority to file or recommend the filing of necessary action with the appropriate agencies, courts or tribunals, against any violators of the law.

The TFD is now conducting an information drive on waste segregation and garbage disposal, the mayor said.