Quezon City policemen are now ready not only for assignments to regular peace and order duty but also for assignments to enforce environmental protection laws.
Thirty-five selected police officers from 12 QC Police District stations have been deputized by the city government as green desk officers to handle environment-related cases as QC launched a stronger anti-littering drive to address the city’s garbage problem.
Mayor Herbert Bautista personally distributed handbooks to the police officers to make them familiar with various national and local environmental laws.
Of the 37 environmental ordinances enacted by the city, 26 are related to solid waste management. These measures include City Ordinance SP – 1203, S – 2002 which grants incentives to barangays practicing best solid waste management and City Ordinance SP – 1191, S – 2002, which also provides incentives to all barangays utilizing their own trucks for solid waste collection service in their respective barangays.
In his speech during the launching of the “QC Ko, Love Ko” anti-littering drive at the SM City North Edsa Sky Dome, the Mayor reiterated that environment management will continue to remain as critical foundation for the city’s urban development strategies.
“We have the laws. Let us work to make sure that these laws are enforced, without fear or favor,” the Mayor said.
Aside from the introduction of the green desk program, the city government, through the environmental protection and waste management department (EPWMD), also harnessed the participation of other stakeholders from the Metro Manila Mayor’s Spouses Foundation, Inc., barangays, out-of-school-youth, educational institutions and city-hired garbage haulers 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.
The EPWMD has already undertaken a profiling of the city’s major thoroughfares and dissemination of garbage collection guidelines to ensure the success of the city’s initiative, which was launched in support to the “Metro Ko, Love Ko” project of the MMDA.
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 will be implemented.
Profits generated from the sale of the recyclable wastes will be awarded to the out-of-school-youth who have been tapped for the program. Precy/ Ramir/ Ej/ Maureen Quiñones, PAISO
