THE City Government of Cagayan de Oro kicked off the Environment Month celebration with the implementation of two new policies-- the "No Segregation, No Collection Policy" for waste management and the Anti-Smoke Belching Law in line with the Clean Air Act.
The dry run of the No Segregation, No Collection policy started on Saturday, June 1, in barangays 1-40. This in compliance of city ordinance Integrated Ecological Solid Waste Management.
City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) chief Engineer Armen Cuenca said, out of 80 barangays, 59 are now committed to comply with the new policy: 13 barangays from district 1, and 6 barangays from district 2, while another 40 from the numbered barangays.
Under the ordinance, each of the households or establishments are required to practice segregation by putting up their own garbage bins for reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable wastes.
Garbage collectors shall collect biodegradable wastes only every 6 a.m. to 12 noon daily, while non-biodegradable wastes collection time is only from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight daily.
Biodegradable wastes must also be strictly placed in garbage trash with covers. Putting them in plastic cellophanes or trash bags is now prohibited.
Full implementation shall be on July 1.
"We are practicing segregation to extend the 20-year lifespan of our sanitary landfill, if possible make it into 30 years. If we can also separate biodegradable from non-biodegrable wastes, we can lessen the harmful lecheate and methane gas formed," he added.
Meanwhile, the City also started the apprehension of all vehicles found violating the Anti-Smoke Belching law.
Under a city ordinance, the apprehending team is composed of Clenro, Roads and Traffic Administration, the testing team, flaggers, and spotters. Cuenca said they will deputize barangay workers to help flag down the violators.
The apprehended vehicles will be given not more than 7 working days to conduct repairs and emission re-test in testing center. If the vehicle fails to report for testing, its plate number, name of operator shall be reported to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for further action.
Violators will be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for second and subsequent offenses, and will be required to undergo a seminar on pollution control and management.
Non-compliance can lead to suspension of Motor Vehicle Registration for a period of 6 months to 1 year for the third fofense.
Section of 8 of the Anti-Smoke Belching law also provides no apprehended motor vehicle shall be accepted for registration by the LTO without the Certificate of Emission Compliance.
City Mayor Oscar Moreno said all of these initiatives are put in place to elevate the city to higher standards.
"We need to be at the top of the competitiveness index, to meet the standards of excellence. Whether we like it or not, we have to achieve these otherwise nobody will live here, nobody will invest here and do business here," Moreno added.