NSTP students tapped to rid city of graffiti

A MASSIVE graffiti clean-up operation spearheaded by National Service Training Program (NSTP) students is being mounted by the Baguio City Government in coordination with other government agencies and the private sector.

Set for February 16-17, the activity aims to paint vandalized walls and structures within the central business district and other areas to restore these areas from being eyesores due to unsightly wall writings usually done with the use of spray paint.

The activity is part of the clean-up and beautification drive preparatory to the conduct of the 18th Baguio Flower Festival later this month.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan led Tuesday a coordination meeting attended by the representatives of the universities and concerned line agencies and officials of the 128 barangays to map out preparations for the activity.

He tasked the coordinators of each of the 20 barangay districts, as well as the various elementary and high schools in the city to submit on or before February 5 the number of students they will need to undertake the painting operation in their respective areas of jurisdiction to determine the total number of NSTP students to be fielded for the activity.

The mayor said the city will coordinate with Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Councilor Joel Alangsab and NSTP coordinator Vladimir Cayabas on the painting tools and other materials needed for the operations.

Cayabas said there are more than 9,000 NTSP students in the various colleges in the city and they plan to tap a number of them for the campaign as part of their community integration thrust.

The mayor said the clean-up program will also involve the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) city engineering district for the painting of graffiti along national roads and overpasses.

He said the city also welcomes the participation of the various civic groups in the project. He said the Rotary Anns of a Rotary Club in the city have pledged to do the flyover area.

“Let’s combine all our efforts for the success of this program. We also hope that our efforts will be sustained so that we can altogether solve the problem on graffiti,” the mayor said.

To sustain the program even after the February clean-up, Cayabas said they also plan to assign a specific task group to tackle the graffiti concern and to forge a partnership with the barangays so that a text-line can be established to ensure prompt reporting and action on graffiti incidents all over the city which can also help deter the crime.

He also broached the possibility of conducting what he called a “vandals’ congress” to help change the consciousness of misguided youth and transform them into productive individuals.

The mayor during the meeting tasked the city schools division superintendent to start conducting values orientation workshops among students in public school to instill good values among the youth and keep them from vices and wayward undertakings.

He also considered the suggestion of a barangay official to regulate the sale of spray paint among minors. (Aileen Refuerzo)