SOME 20 violators of the city’s Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Program for the City of Dagupan were apprehended last September 15 and 17 while in the act of throwing, dumping or defecating in the main rivers of the city.
Under City Ordinance 1929-2009 of Article IV, section five, it is unlawful for any person to willfully or negligently dump, deposit, throw, leave or abandon any litter on solid waste upon any public highway, street alley, or road, upon public parks or recreation areas or upon any other public property owned, or into any bay, channel, harbor, river, creek, stream, reservoir, coastal waters, or other waters of the city.
Mayor Benjamin S. Lim ordered police operations on violators upon learning that dumping of wastes in the main rivers of the city goes on daily despite implementation of the waste segregation policy under his administration.
In his meeting with barangay officials last Monday, Lim ordered the arrest of violators to emphasize that his administration is dead serious in the city’s campaign to clean the rivers of unscrupulous dumping of wastes.
“You do not want to cooperate with us, then we will not cooperate with you.” he said.
To his operatives, he declared: ”Manghuhuli tayo para malaman nila na seryoso tayo. If we need to apprehend the Punong Barangay if the law says they are relatively responsible for the acts of their constituents, we will apprehend them first so they will know that we are really serious,”
Teams from the city police, public order and safety office, waste management division and city information office conducted surveillance on the city’s riverbanks and creek as early as 4 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Apprehended violators who were invited to the police station on September 15 were: Ador Labastro y Solano, 40 years old, married, fish vendor, resident of Brgy. Lucao; Lara Quismundo y Valdez, 20, single, canteen helper, resident of Brgy. Calmay; Leo Lachica, 13, Grade V pupil, resident of Pugaro; Segundo Beltran y Palangan, 56, married, boatman, resident of Brgy. Pantal; Roque Mejia , 33, married, fish vendor, resident of Brgy. Lomboy; Walter Valdez, 25, married, resident of Brgy. Pantal; Loscun Aquino, 32, married, resident of Brgy. Pugaro.
Jolina Cervantes y Fernandez, 43, married, resident of Brgy. Salapingao; Vicente Estrada, 70, resident of Brgy. Salapingao; Rupert Austria y De Vera, 50, married, resident of Calmay; Roberto Fernandez, 50, married, resident of Brgy. Calmay; Natividad Urbano, 60, married, resident of Brgy. Calamiong and Jerome Pascua, 36 , resident of Brgy. Calmay.
On September 17, the following were apprehended by POSO team: Juana Jimenez, 64, widow, helper and a resident of Sitio Calima, Pantal; Fred Paras , 55 , single, fisherman and a resident of Paras Street; Benny Paras, 58 , married, fisherman and a resident of Paras Street; Jimmy Vidal, 38 years old, married, shed owner and a resident of Paras Street.
Pricilla Vierne 55, single, helper, resident of Bonuan Tondaligan; Brian Pinero y Gamboa, 27, single, tricycle driver, resident of Careenan; Godfrey Dalin y Cuevas, 21, single, jobless, resident of E. P. Nava road, Amado street; and Jong Mejia y Reley, 34, married, shed owner, resident of Bonuan Tondaligan.
Under the ordinance, polluters are fined P300.00 for the first offense, P500 for the second offense and P1,000 for the third offense; and are directed to render community service of not less than one day to not more than 15 days to the barangay where such prohibited acts are committed or both.
The offenders, however, were just reprimanded and warned and were sent home by the PNP after, (CIO – Joseph C. Bacani)
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