City ready for more garbage during Dinagyang Feast

AN ADDITIONAL 30 truckloads of garbage are expected this weekend in the city proper area alone during the Dinagyang Festival, according to an official of public service office.

Engineer Raul Gallo of the city’s public service office admitted that more than 100 metric tons (MT) of garbage are to be collected before, during and after the Dinagyang on top of the daily 170 mt of collected garbage in the seven districts of the city.

Gallo, chair of the Sanitation Committee, said his team of more than 100 street sweepers and garbage collectors are being mobilized to clean the streets including the portalets fielded in strategic areas of the city proper.

A total of 30 portalets are to be placed in the food festival and judging areas, including at the Dinagyang parade route for the public to use, he added.

He said he is also appealing to kiosks owners and sidewalk vendors to provide their own garbage bin for their customers to throw their garbage.

Similarly, the Health Committee chaired by city health officer Dr. Urminico Baronda assured immediate medical attention and first aid assistance to revelers suffering from heat stroke and other illness during the festival.

Baronda said the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Iloilo chapter and the Iloilo City Emergency Response (ICER) are placing 12 medical stations and four major stations at each four performance areas.

The PNRC is also fielding roving first aiders and two ambulances along the parade routes, Baronda added.

The city health office is also putting up a first aid station at the City Hall parking area and mobilizing another two ambulances for emergency purposes.