THE Cebu City Department of Public Services (DPS) started clearing the streets of campaign posters and banners yesterday afternoon.
Engr. Joel Viton, DPS officer-in-charge, called the initiative “Operation Kuskos.” Kuskos is a Bisaya term that means “to scrub.”
Some 400 DPS personnel and volunteers participated in yesterday’s cleanup operation.
“Nagsugod na mi’g ginagmay after sa election but full force gyud mi ron sa DPS karong gabie (We’ve already started after the elections but we will be in full force tonight),” he said.
Viton said that the DPS will prioritize the city’s downtown area where the campaign materials are concentrated.
Viton said his office sent a letter-request to the City Administrator’s Office to ask for assistance on the next phase of Operation Kuskos next week.
Engr. Rogelio Legaspi, officer-in-charge for Garbage Collection Division, said that the DPS also asked the upland barangay captains to send volunteers to assist in the operation.
Viton added that the coverage area for the operation is very wide that’s why they need the help from the upland barangays.
Garbage collection
Meanwhile, the garbage collected after the May 9 polls increased by 20 percent in Cebu City compared to the previous elections.
“National man gud ron. Dayon grabeng tinaptapay og poster, sample ballots asta streamers,” explained Engr. Dionisio Gualiza.
The DPS reported that a total of 142 tons of garbage have been collected compared to the 116 tons during the 2013 local elections.
The garbage collection last May 9 is equivalent to more than 2,576 sacks of rice.
Engr. Legazpi said that most of the garbage collected were sample ballots, plastics and styro foam used for pack lunch.
The large bulk of garbage were collected in schools that were used as election polling places like City Central school and Abellana National School.
Dr. Eddie Llamedo, DENR 7 spokesperson, appealed to the candidates to help the DPS in the cleanup operation, as this would not only make the workload of the DPS personnel lighter but it would also make the clearing process faster.
Llamedo also said that it is the duty of the local government units to collect garbage and not the DENR.
Llamedo also encouraged the people to recycle the campaign paraphernalia like tarpaulins. Lorraine Mitzi Ambrad, USJ-R Intern