spot_img
28.6 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Binay warns negligent brgy leaders

- Advertisement -

MAKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay has warned village officials who failed to maintain safe and clean environment in their community they might be suspended or removed from the service.

Binay said failure to maintain sidewalks and streets already cleared and restored by city’s Department of Environment Service would make the community leaders liable for gross negligence or dereliction of duty. 

Under Section 60 (c) of Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code), these offenses are grounds for disciplinary action, including suspension and removal from office.

On Friday, Binay ordered DES personnel to intensify their sidewalk recovery operations throughout the city. 

- Advertisement -

She also reminded the barangay officials to help the city government in the campaign and do their part in maintaining areas that have already been cleared.

The city chief executive said her administration remained firm in promoting order and discipline on the streets of Makati, mainly through the strict enforcement of local and national laws on environmental protection and road safety.

“We will continue to clear out all forms of obstruction on our streets and sidewalks, and that includes illegal vendors and their wares. We will apprehend violators of our environmental and traffic laws until they learn to obey the law,” said Binay.  

Binay tapped DES chief engineer Leopoldo Parumog to keep track of areas cleared and flag those repeatedly found with obstruction during follow-up clearing operations. 

“We will identify areas where our efforts are wasted because of incorrigible violators and negligent barangay officials,” she stressed.

She pointed out that pedestrians, motorists and the riding public were all put at risk when sidewalks were not ‘walkable’ and people were forced to walk on the street, which slowed down flow of traffic and added to traffic congestion.

 Based on the full-year report of DES to the Office of the Mayor, its Solid Waste Management Division had cleared a total of 464 streets and sidewalks in 2017, with 294 in District 1 and 170 in District 2.

 For the same period, they arrested 694 individuals and warned two establishments for violating the “Maintenance of Sidewalk” provision under City Ordinance No. 2003-095, the Makati Solid Waste Management Code. 

There were 528 individuals and two establishments caught in District 1 and 166 individual violators caught in District 2.

In 2017, DES had operated in 17 barangays in District 1, namely, Pio del Pilar with 53 streets cleared; Poblacion, 47 streets; Tejeros, 44; Olympia, 37; Palanan, 27; Bangkal, 14; Magallanes, 12; Valenzuela, 11; 

Singkamas, 10; Bel-Air, nine; San Antonio, seven; San Lorenzo, five; Kasilawan, San Isidro and Sta. Cruz, four each; and Carmona and La Paz, three streets each. 

In District II, DES had carried out clearing operations in 11 barangays. 

These were Guadalupe Nuevo with 28 streets cleared; Cembo, 21 streets; Pinagkaisahan, 20; Guadalupe Viejo and Pitogo, 19 each; Pembo, 16; Rizal, 14; East Rembo, 11; Comembo, nine; South Cembo, eight; and West Rembo, five.

Section 12, Chapter 5 of the Code requires household owners, caretakers, tenants, establishment owners, managers or any person responsible for the operations of establishments within Makati to maintain their frontage and keep immediate surroundings clean and sanitary.

Section 16, Chapter 7 prohibits the dumping, placing, throwing, scattering of waste, refuse or garbage matters, papers, cigarette butts and the like, in any place in the streets or public building or property, including waterways, river banks not otherwise designated as garbage dumping place.

The Code imposes a P1,000-fine or imprisonment between five days to 30 days, or both at the discretion of the court, on individual violators. 

The owners or managers of errant establishments, on the other hand, face a P5,000-fine or imprisonment from 30 days to one year, or both at the discretion of the court.

Meanwhile, aside from sidewalk recovery, DES also strictly implements and monitors the compliance of establishments in Makati to the Plastic Regulation Order under Executive Order No. 007 Series of 2012, which bans the use, sale and distribution of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials, such as Styrofoam (polystyrene), as packaging materials.

Last Jan. 17, 44 establishments were inspected by DES during an ocular inspection conducted along Kalayaan Avenue Extension, Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo and Barangay Pitogo. 

They issued violation tickets to three establishments found using plastic packaging below 15 microns, a violation of the said executive order.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles