To inspire its 16 barangays to keep their respective jurisdictions clean and green as foremost of their responsibilities under the law, the City of Parañaque has launched a competition with cash prizes to be awarded during the 20th cityhood anniversary celebration on Feb. 13.
The contest, a first for the local government, aims to encourage all barangays in the city to maintain and sustain cleanliness in their areas in compliance of the provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
“This contest is a big challenge to our barangay leaders, which will also motivate and inspire them in keeping their respective jurisdiction clean and green. It will also show how effective they are as community leaders,” according to Janet Olivarez, wife of the city mayor and head of the city’s Cleanliness, Beautification, and Sanitation Office.
Olivarez, president of the Metro Manila Mayors’ Spouses Foundation, Inc. (MMMSFI), said the search for cleanest and greenest barangay, including coastal areas and waterways, will measure the sincerity of the officials in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Program.
The year-long contest is divided into four categories: cleanest barangay; best in composting and gardening; best in solid waste management, cleanest waterways; and dengue free/smoke free barangay.
The members of the technical working group has conducted a visitation and evaluation of each participating barangay with their audio visual presentation which started November last year until January this year.
Olivarez said the ratings will be based on the overall cleanliness of the barangay, orderliness, greening and beautification, waste management and livelihood components.
The ratings will also be based on the absence of all kinds of litters and garbage, vandalism or graffiti, human and animal wastes, and burnt materials along sidewalks and canals among others.
The rating system will be scored with one as the lowest rating and 10 as the highest. They will be ranked based on the scores earned.
One winner will be selected in District I and II, with a cash prize and plaque of recognition to be awarded on February 13, during the celebration of city’s 2oth cityhood anniversary.
The search committee is composed of city environment and natural resources office, agriculture department, public information office, city health office while the secretariat consists of Maica Charisse Banta, of the internal and external affairs office; Engr. Maria Teresa Quiogue of CENRO and Leonora Santos of the Mayor’s Office.