A massive clean up drive was conducted in Tacloban City this April 2008 with barangay and city officials leading the activity.
All the major creeks and rivers in the city were also cleaned during the activity.
City Councilor Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez, a former movie actress who is now the wife of Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez spearheaded the clean-up activity that was participated also by numerous residents from the different barangays of the City.
Romualdez said that she hoped the campaign of making Tacloban a clean city would become a natural habit among the city's more than 200,000 residents. Making the city clean and beautiful was not only the obligation of the local officials but also of all the people of the city.
Since her husband Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez has assumed office last year, cleaning up the city's main streets and highways has been one of his administration's priorities as more than 70 street sweepers are seen doing their job on a round-the-clock basis.
DO THE RIGHT THING
The thoughtless, but all too common act of failing to dispose of trash in the proper receptacle has a major impact on the health, appearance and pride of our city.
A clean community discourages littering and illegal dumping. Proper handling of litter and waste raises the standards and expectations of everyone. No matter where litter starts, it moves. Wind and weather move litter around a community, into the gutters, planted gardens, alleyways and parking areas; from streets and highways, to parks and waterways.
DO THE RIGHT THING!
Keep Tacloban City Clean and Beautiful!
DO NOT LITTER!
FACTS
• Cigarette butts, the single most littered item in the Philippines, is composed of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic that can persist in the environment for 10-12 years! An estimated 4.5 trillion non-biodegradable cigarette butts are littered worldwide.
• The next most significant offender is floatable litter that contains polystyrene. When ingested by animals who mistake it for food, polystyrene can poison and/or clog stomachs leading to death by either toxicity or starvation. Once released into the environment, polystyrene will NEVER decompose to a non-recognizable form.
Entanglement occurs when animal becomes inextricably wrapped in or ensnared up by something. In many cases litter can entangle an animal swimming by. If the animal is unable to extricate itself, it can suffocate or drown.
• Plastic shopping bags, which can result in both suffocation and drowning, take between 10-20 years to decompose
• Not only is litter unsightly to the beaches and shores and dangerous to aquatic life, it can also create economic consequences.
SOLUTIONS/ACTIONS
Step 1
Simple Actions:
• Set an example by not littering.
• Dispose of trash properly. Recycle any materials that can be recycled and dispose of the rest in a garbage can.
• Do not dump anything down the storm drain.
• Keep a litterbag in your car.
• Avoid excess packaging when you shop. This will decrease litter from the start.
• Purchase reusable canvas bags for your groceries and errands. Keep these items in your car so that they are handy whenever you might need them.
• Do not accept plastic bags with items you purchase if you can carry your purchase with out them.
• Keep your yard clean and free of things that can blow into the street and become litter.
• Keep your driveway and street clear of grass clippings and leaves.
• When you visit a park or beach, remember to take out what you bring in. Keep trash and recyclables in a bag or backpack until you can put them in a litter basket.
• Talk to your family and friends about recycling to reduce the amount of material you throw away, this will also result in a reduction of litter generally.
• At home, make sure garbage and recycling bags are tied securely so that loose papers and other items cannot fall out and become litter.
• Make sure you close the lid on your refuse containers after depositing your trash or recycling inside. This will prevent refuse from spilling into the street.
• Do not overfill refuse containers; exposed garbage will likely result in litter.
• Remove flyers or take-out menus promptly from your front door or windshield before they are blown away and become litter.
Step 2:
More Involvement:
• Participate in and promote recycling programs. If there is not a curbside recycling program in your neighborhood, contact your city officials.
• Contact your city if there are no trash bins at your local parks, beaches or public areas.
OFFICE OF THE CITY MAYOR Tacloban City Hall
6500 Tacloban City, Leyte
Philippines Tel. 0063.53.321.3369
