Litterbugs in Mandaue city face a fine of P500 to P1,500 if they are caught tossing trash in the streets.
More enforcers will be available after the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources signed an agreement with the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) to deputize their Criminology student interns as eco-wardens.
About 50 to 60 students will monitor the streets in two shifts during the day as part of their one-year internship.
The school will also take part in an information campaign on waste segregation.
Engr. Ricardo Mendoza, head of Mandaue City’s Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO) said both activities will help reduce the city’s garbage problem.
Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes also signed an agreement with the urban poor group “Sulong Mandauehanong Kabus” that that will convert recycled materials. Through this initiative, Cortes said Mandaue hopes to reduce its garbage volume from 450 tons a day to 120 tons.