Leyte PB Okays ordinance for pollution-free schools

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines - The Leyte Provincial Board yesterday approved an ordinance mandating all schools in the province to be pollution-free.

PB Member Carlo Loreto, chair of the education committee and author of the measure, said, "The approval of this ordinance would mean providing our schools the atmosphere that is much more conducive to learning."

The ordinance is expected to establish an environment suitable for education and growth for the benefit of the students, he told The FREEMAN.

"We have to initiate whatever step we can to ensure a good learning environment for our students because the youth is the future of our country," said Loreto.

Schools in Leyte province are continuously experiencing air pollution because some school administrators either tolerate garbage burning in open areas inside campuses or turn a blind eye to similar activities of nearby households.

Loreto said he was prompted to do something to stop the bad practices that result to air pollution, which is detrimental and harmful to the health of the students in schools and residents nearby.

The ordinance, co-authored by PB Members Roque Tiu, Wilson Uy, Antonio Jabilles, Deborah Bertulfo, and Niccolo Villasin, carries a maximum fine of P5,000 or a maximum imprisonment of 60 days, or both, depending on the discretion of the court.