AROUND 45 tons of garbage were collected from Cebu City cemeteries during the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
Department of Public Services (DPS) Assistant Head John Paul Gelasque said people securing their own trash bags when visiting their dead loved ones helped reduce the volume of garbage generated during the holidays.
“Our information dissemination really helped in telling people to bring their own trash bags. We were also able to reduce the amount of garbage since we conducted a clean-up drive five days before All Saints’ Day,” he said.
The DPS collected around 15 tons of trash last Thursday, Nov. 1, and another 30 tons the following day.
Gelasque, though, said this is less compared to the 50 tons of garbage collected during last year’s observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
The public cemeteries in Carreta and Calamba remain the top garbage generators.
Gelasque said most of the trash collected were food packs, puso (hanging rice) wrappers and single use plastic bags that served as alternative utensils.
He said the 24-hour cleaning operation DPS conducted starting last Wednesday, Oct. 31 also helped minimize the accumulation of rubbish.
Teams composed of three street cleaners were also deployed in each of the nine cemeteries in the city.
Although the City already collects nearly 550 tons of trash daily, Gelasque said the volume of garbage generated during the holidays is still relatively less.
“Gamay ra gihapon ni siya (This is still small) because it doesn’t happen every day. On regular days, we maintain a collection of less than 600 tons of garbage. But while this may be the case, dapat magmatngon gyud sa basura (we should be conscious). Dapat responsible maglabay (We should be responsible where we throw our garbage),” he said.
Meanwhile, a garbage truck under contract with the Cebu City Government rammed into two traffic posts, a Veco electrical post and a subdivision fence on B. Rodriguez St.
The driver and his two loaders were injured and are still recovering in the hospital.
San Nicolas Police received the accident alarm at 3:40 p.m. of Saturday dawn, Nov. 3.
The truck, owned by Geo Transport and Construction Inc., was driven by Marlon Lumantas, 32, of Barangay Apas.
With Lumantas were loaders Nestor Jimenez, 60, and Lutgardo Santamaria, 51. Both of them work for the Cebu City Department of Public Services.
PO2 Wilfredo Caperida said the truck collects garbage on V. Rama Ave., B. Rodriguez St., and Gen. Maxilom Ave.
Lumantas admitted he dozed off while driving.
Lumantas was stuck inside the vehicle and sustained injuries. He was extricated by members of a medical team, traffic enforcers, and some policemen.
The truck owner Geo Transport & Construction Inc. assured it will shoulder the hospital expenses of the three workers and pay for the damage caused on the CITOM and Veco posts and the fence on Espina Compound. RTF, With FMMD of Superbalita