Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista will lead city officials in launching a citywide anti-littering program today (August 4) in line with plans to pursue stronger actions against the indiscriminate throwing of garbage, especially on the city’s major roads and thoroughfares.
Under the “QC Ko, Love Ko” program, the city government shall harness the participation of nearly 1000 stakeholders from the barangays, police, out-of-school-youth, educational institutions and city-hired garbage haulers who will be mobilized and deputized by the city government in the enforcement of the city’s environmental laws, especially policies against littering.
On the part of the city schools, 130 high school students from 13 pilot public schools shall be deputized as junior environment police officers who will be tasked to issue notices of violation within the confines of the pilot schools.
QC’s anti-littering initiative also covers the introduction of the green desk program where 35 selected police officers from 12 QC Police District stations will be deputized as green desk officers to address environmental concerns.
The city government, thru the environmental protection and waste management department (EPWMD), has invited Environment and Natural Resources secretary Ramon Paje and Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino to join Mayor Bautista during the program launching, which will be held at the SM City North Edsa Sky Dome from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
The EPWMD has already undertaken a profiling of the city’s major thoroughfares including dissemination of garbage collection guidelines to ensure the success of the city’s initiative, which will be launched in support to the “Metro Ko, Love Ko” project of the MMDA.
Coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways, the MMDA, transport groups and vendors has also been undertaken by the EPWMD as part of the city’s efforts to strengthen its anti-littering campaign.
Also, as part of the “QC Ko, Love Ko” program, a recyclable waste collection project in selected high-end subdivisions involving 120 out-of-school-youth shall be implemented.
Profits generated from the sale of the recyclable wastes shall be awarded to the out-of-school-youth who have been tapped for the program. Precy/ Ej/ Maureen Quiñones, PAISO
