Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella pushes for sustained efforts to rid Guadalupe River and other waterways of litter. | Irene R. Sino Cruz
CEBU CITY—Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella is set to meet with barangay captains Tuesday, August 20, to discuss how to stop the dumping of wastes into the city’s creeks and rivers.
On Saturday, August 17, the mayor, together with other city officials and employees, other government agencies and some volunteers, conducted a cleanup of the Guadalupe River.
Read more: 20 tons of garbage gathered in Guadalupe River clean-up drive; Mahiga Creek to follow
During the press conference held shortly before noon Monday, August 19, Labella said that he had received information that there were some litter thrown somewhere in Pahina San Nicolas and other areas, which had yet to be identified as to what barangay these belonged to.
“It is very encouraging that we were able to collect 70 tons of garbage (from Guadalupe River). It has to be sustained,” the mayor said. “We tasked CCenro (Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office) to monitor because we were able to receive information that somewhere in Pahina San Nicolas some litter, some garbage were thrown.”
Read more: Cenro Chief: Lack of discipline caused Guadalupe River’s dismal state
Labella said that once he would get the information, he would issue reminders to the barangay captains in these areas that they would have to do their share.
“We will issue reminders first and warnings second,” the mayor said, adding that the third time that a barangay captain would fail in this task, he would face administrative sanctions.
During the meeting with the barangay captains, Labella said they would discuss the need to sustain the massive cleanup of the city’s waterways as well as the city’s garbage problem.
Labella appealed to residents along the city’s waterways to avoid throwing their litter there.
He also called on the barangay captains to set aside partisan posturing and be united in solving the garbage problem.
The Guadalupe River traverses several Cebu City barangays including Guadalupe, Capitol Site and Pahina Central. /dbs