Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama issued executive order (EO) "Oplan Panindot sa Palibot" early this year. News? Mayor Rama also issued EO "Oplan Disiplina" last year.
The "Oplan Panindot sa Palibot" was launched with the city's First Lady Malou Rama leading the beautification campaign. She was assisted by Arlie Gesta, head of the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO).
The latest instruction of Mayor Rama, according to the Cebu City Public Information Office, is for the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (Probe) to intensify its effort in removing the tarpaulins of private companies that are attached to poles and displayed in other prohibited places. Mayor Rama was quoted saying he does not want thoroughfares to become an "advertisement territory."
Well, let us hope that these two "Oplans" would not be plans only or mere rhetoric from city officials but would really be put into action. In fact, these plans should have been the primary tools in Mayor Rama's Singapore-like dream for Cebu City because we all know that discipline is wanting among residents and transients. Instead of initially begging the city council for a billion budget for his Singapore-like vision, cleanliness should have been the bigger issue.
As to why these plans were not put into action early in the term of Mayor Rama is something that we could not comprehend. If my memory serves me right, the past and present city administrations have done many ways or enticements, so to speak, on how to reduce the waste and get the attention and help of the residents but these have not gained momentum.
If the city ordinances or the laws on sanitation are not strictly enforced and those who hold power shall not interfere with the enforcement, whoever sits in City Hall could not do anything no matter how aggressive the campaign may be.
Without the strict implementation of the city ordinances and laws, particularly on cleanliness, the environmental and sanitation laws, discipline among the city residents would be hard to attain. Discipline will be hard to impose even if reusable or recyclable garbage would be exchanged with money instead of goods.
The leaders of Singapore made a name for their tiny nation by using the strong arm of the law in imposing discipline among its citizens and especially on the tourists or transients. I am not suggesting that Mayor Rama whip with a rattan stick those who dirty the city, just like what the Singaporean officials did in the early years in order to improve their nation's status.
We are one nation that is not wanting in laws. Wikipedia's 2018 records show that we have 10,967 to 11,166 laws, including executive orders. What is missing in us is the love and pride for our country.
Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 is a comprehensive law aimed at improving the solid waste management of the country through a "systematic, ecological, solid waste management program." Sadly, it was only good for a few years after its implementation. Under this law, the local government units (LGUs), including the barangays, could be held administratively and criminally liable if they fail to implement the rules and regulations in the management of solid wastes.
Cebu City and other LGUs have failed to implement the segregation of wastes, which is mandatory under RA 9003. Worse, the LGUs do not have a sanitary landfill as required by this law.