EDITORIAL - Hit litterbugs where it hurts

This is actually a common sight not just in Cebu City but almost everywhere in the Philippines; an individual buys something to eat, unwraps it, then carelessly discards the packaging as if it is no big deal, as if expecting someone to come pick it up later.

Of course this doesn’t go just for food packaging. Many of us nonchalantly get rid of anything that has served its purpose wherever we are in public spaces, neighborhoods, as well as public transportation.

Yes, many of us are litterbugs; it is almost second nature for us to naturally throw trash wherever and whenever we see fit and think nothing of it.

And because they see adults doing it, children also do this as well. While cleanliness is something we want children to observe when it comes to their bodies and homes, it seems this isn’t being taught about their environment.

Now some Cebu City officials have decided that enough is enough and want the fine for littering increased. The current fine is ?1,000 but it seems that amount isn’t enough to put some litterbugs off.

"Siguro ang uban kay magsalig lang kay mobayad ra sila kun masakpan nga nagpataka sila og labay sa basura... Aron tingali madisplina, mas maayo siguro nga pasakaan nalang ang multa," said Grace Luardo, head of the Cebu City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team.

While no amount for Luardo’s proposed increase has been mentioned, we are all for it. Increase the fine for littering and improper waste disposal so that people will learn to only dispose of trash where and when it should be.

Trash isn’t just unsightly, if it accumulates where it shouldn’t it has the tendency to attract insects and vermin that can spread disease. We also know that if it accumulates in certain areas it can cause flooding.

But despite what is already known, it seems some of us still cannot help but feel so cavalier about getting rid of trash, so perhaps hitting them where it hurts --the wallet-- can have more impact.

We realize imposing hefty fines for littering isn’t enough to nip this problem in the bud. Our culture of litter can only be addressed with a change in attitude. But while that attitude change will not come overnight, making littering expensive can help in the short term.

If we cannot reign in our litterbugs we should forget about solving our flooding problem, let alone becoming like Singapore.