Quezon City District 2 Councilor Winston Castelo is urging the public to use their long weekends for clean-up drives in a bid to quell the endemic problem of dengue.
Castelo said Sunday people must take advantage of the three long weekends this month to initiate a clean-up drive to thwart any potential victims of the deadly disease.
The three long weekends are due to of Eid'l Adha on Aug. 12, Quezon City Day on Aug. 19, and National Heroes Day on Aug. 26, which all fall on a Monday.
“They should be maximized by the people to clean their homes of stagnant water and other breeding grounds of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” the councilor said.
He said a massive information drive is also important to raise public awareness amid the declaration of a national dengue epidemic by the Department of Health.
According to Castelo, the 37-member city council has recently approved a resolution to purchase anti- dengue machines.
Meanwhile, Mayor Joy Belmonte thanked the Department of the Interior and Local Government for recognizing the city’s endeavor to clear its roads even before President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to get rid of road obstructions in 60 days.
Belmonte dubbed the city’s clearing operations “Bayanihan sa Lansangan” because it will not only focus on clearing of streets, but also on the welfare of those who will be displaced by the move.
Despite the DILG’s praise, Belmonte said the city government should not rest on its laurels and build on their early accomplishments to fulfil the enormous task at hand.
“With the help of everyone, I am confident that we can clear the city streets before the 60-day deadline,” bsaid Belmonte.
Belmonte made the pronouncement after DILG Undersecretary Bernardo Florece Jr. cited Belmonte’s efforts to clear the city streets, adding that the local government has been doing its job even before President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address.
“Silently, Quezon City has been doing its work even before the SONA,” said Florece, who added that QC is ahead of other Metro Manila cities in terms of progress in their road-clearing operations.
In his fourth SONA, Duterte ordered local government units to clear city streets of illegally parked vehicles and illegal vendors within 60 days to help solve the perennial traffic problem in Metro Manila.
In accordance with President Duterte’s order, Belmonte recently formed “Task Force 60 Days”, which will focus on traffic and public order. Belmonte appointed Atty. Ariel Inton to tackle the traffic aspect, while retired Gen. Elmo San Diego will head the public order component.