194 fined for smoking, garbage in cemeteries

CEBU, Philippines - Throw your garbage properly.  No smoking in public places.

These are basic lessons taught in elementary schools that 194 people relearned the hard way after Cebu City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team personnel and Barangay Environmental Officers issued them citation tickets for littering and smoking inside different cemeteries of the city yesterday.

CESET Chief Grace Luardo said that as of 6 p.m. yesterday, they apprehended 97 for violating City Ordinance 2241 (The Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of the City of Cebu) while 97 more were caught indiscriminately throwing trash, which is a violation of City Ordinance 1361 (An Ordinance Establishing a System of Garbage Collection, Imposing Fees Therefor, and Appropriating Funds and for Other Related Purposes).

Violators of City Ordinance 2241 are fined P1,500 while those caught violating City Ordinance 1361 are fined P500.

Luardo said that the 194 included 96 caught at the Barangay Luz Cemetery, 47 at Calamba Cemetery, 34 at Talamban Public Cemetery, seven at Pardo Cemetery, six at Labangon Cemetery, and one at Carreta Cemetery.

Luardo, though, said the figure is lower compared to All Saints’ Day last year, when they issued citation tickets to more than 370 violators.

“Maayo nga nigamay ang atong violators karon kay daghan man gud nang-reklamo last year nga wala daw sila kahibawo sa balaod. Maong nag-conduct gyod mi og information drive since Thursday hangtud Saturday,” she said, adding that more people are now aware of the city ordinances.

She urged those who were issued with citation tickets to settle their fines today to avoid being sued by her office.

She clarified, though, that CESET is not after making money from the enforcement of the city’s ordinances but on imposing discipline for the people to observe cleanliness.

Luardo said those who have no money to pay for the fines could render community services as an alternative punishment.

With All Souls’ Day being observed today, 448 CESET personnel and BEOs will continue to roam the city’s cemeteries within the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu Province Public Information Officer Ethel Natera reminded the public that that today is not a holiday.

Rama said he does not see any need to declare a holiday, since people had time to visit their departed loved ones over the weekend.

Rama visited cemeteries in the city yesterday and was pleased that no major problems were reported.

“All signages put in place, less havoc,” he said, specifically mentioning Doña Pepang Cemetery, where houses fronting the cemetery were cleared by the city government.

“When you go to Doña Pepang, it appeared very much better compared to what it was years ago,” he said, adding that market in the center island near the cemetery was removed giving bigger space for the road.

The city government plans to convert the 9,282-square-meter cemetery, situated along M.J. Cuenco Avenue, into a heritage park.

The cemetery was previously owned by the Archdiocese of Cebu but was swapped with a city-owned lot in Barangay Pasil. The city government entered into an agreement with the Archdiocese of Cebu to convert the cemetery into a park.

For the traffic situation in the city, Cebu City Transportation Office Chief Rey Gealon said his personnel has “effectively and efficiently” controlled and contained the volume of vehicles passing through roads leading to the different cemeteries.

Gealon said his office implemented traffic scheme adjustments in some areas for better traffic flow.   (FREEMAN)