LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) – Residents along the Palispis-Aspiras Road, more known as Marcos Highway in the municipality of Tuba, appeal to motorists not to make the national road as a dumpsite.
“Sana po huwag gawing tambakan ng basura ang Marcos Highway. Kawawa na po ang mga taong naglilinis sa mga kalat na iniiwan sa kalsada,” Poblacion, Tuba Punong Barangay and Liga ng mga Barangay – Benguet Chapter president Oliver Paus Paus said during the recent clean up drive as part of the Barangay at Kalinisan Day (BARKADA) Project.
(We hope that Marcos Highway will not be used as a dumping site. People cleaning the trash left along the road are pitiful.)
Paus said most areas along the highway under the jurisdiction of Taloy and Poblacion, and even Baguio City are the usual dumping sites of wastes by motorists.
It was observed that truckers avoiding the truck ban in the city of Baguio, and tourists who are stopping by to view are among the major culprits of the dumped wastes.
Paus expressed gratitude to the volunteers who support the barangay in their efforts in cleaning up not only the barangay premises but also the stretch of Marcos Highway.
On Feb. 17, at least 100 volunteers, employees from local and national government agencies, students, teachers, and community members participated in the BARKADA clean-up activity along Marcos Highway in Tuba.
More than 600 kilos of wastes were collected during the one-day clean up drive.
The BARKADA clean-up drive aims to sustain the momentum of the Kalinisan sa Bagong Pilipinas program that aims to raise public awareness and participation in environmental responsibilities through proper waste management.
This convergence program aims to strengthen community engagement and capacitate the local government units in order to provide and maintain a safe and healthy environment, explained Mory Paleng, Tuba municipal local government operations officer.
Under Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular 2023-133, barangays are enjoined to conduct a weekly clean-up drive and pass a resolution declaring one day of the week as BarKaDa Day. (JDP/RMC PIA-CAR)
