City gov’t warns smoke belchers
After stepping up its anti-littering campaign, the Iloilo City government is now going after smoke belchers.
The anti-smoke belching campaign is embodied in Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act of 2009 and empowers local government units to lead in local actions against air pollution and climate change and their impacts to public health and the environment.
It is also an enforcement of Regulation Ordinance 2004-149 or the Environmental Code of Iloilo City.
The city is working with the Iloilo City Coalition on Clean Air and Climate Change in the enforcement with the sole purpose is to lessen the rapid effects of the transportation industry to the surroundings.
The coalition is composed of representatives from the different transport groups such as taxis, tricycles, jeepneys and vans, energy sector, business, academe, non-government organizations, national government agencies and the local government unit.
Both anti-littering and anti-smoke belching campaigns aim at educating Ilonggos that cleanliness is still the best way to a healthy and progressive community.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog had earlier instructed Engr. Noel Hechanova of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office to strictly implement the Solid Waste and Ecology Management Act in relation to the anti-littering campaign.
The CENRO is being reinforced by private organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the Solid Waste Management Board headed by Supt. Eugenio Espejo in arresting violators.
On Wednesday last week, Espejo’s team made 33 apprehensions.
Mabilog has ordered intensified anti-littering enforcement in the city’s central business district, spanning J.M. Basa and Iznart streets.
