The city government of Makati cleared a total of 271 streets in various barangays during its sidewalk clearing operations conducted by its Environmental Service department from July to December last year.
The clearing operation is in line with the directive of Mayor Abigail Binay to maintain “walkable streets” through regular sidewalk recovery operations.
“In our first six months in office, we have removed sidewalk obstructions and eyesores from about 271 streets around the city. Makatizens have the right to have ‘walkable streets’ that are functional and, most importantly, safe for the elderly and children,” said Binay.
In a report submitted to the Office of the Mayor, the city’s Department of Environmental Services and Solid Waste Management Division cleared 178 streets in District 1 and 93 in District 2 during the last six months of 2016.
Binay urged barangay officials and other community leaders in the city to support and cooperate with DES in its task of eliminating all kinds of street obstructions.
“I am calling on our barangay leaders and enforcers to help maintain the cleared streets and sidewalks, and cooperate with our DES teams whenever they conduct clearing operations in their barangays,” she said.
DES head Engineer Leopoldo Parumog said they do regular monitoring of streets in the city to immediately pinpoint areas that need to be cleared. He added his team also respond to requests from some barangays to remove obstructions on certain streets.
In District 1, the group operated in 17 barangays. Tejeros had the most number of streets cleared at 30, followed by Bangkal with 29 streets, Pio del Pilar with 27, Poblacion, 25, and Olympia, 20.
Sidewalk recovery operations were also conducted in the following District 1 barangays: Valenzuela, 12 streets cleared; San Antonio, eight; Kasilawan, seven; La Paz, seven; Bel-Air, four; Singkamas, two; Palanan, two; and one each for San Isidro, San Lorenzo, Sta. Cruz, Carmona, and Magallanes.
Meanwhile, in District 2 for the same period, DES operated in 12 barangays. South Cembo had the most number of streets cleared in the district with a total of 14 streets, followed by Pinagkaisahan with 13 streets; Rizal, 12; and Pitogo, 10.
Other District 2 barangays covered by the project include Guadalupe Nuevo and West Rembo with nine streets each; Guadalupe Viejo and Cembo, eight streets each; Pembo, 5; Comembo and East Rembo, two streets each, and Northside, one street.
Among the things removed or confiscated during sidewalk recovery operations for said period were scrap materials, metal basketball stands, metal bars of tents, tires, woods, debris, chairs and tables of eateries which served as their sidewalk extensions, food stalls and food carts obstructing the streets.
City Ordinance No.
A fine of P1,000 pesos and/or imprisonment not more than 30 days for individual violators, and a fine of P5,000 and/or imprisonment of not less than 30 days shall be imposed. “¬
Aside from sidewalk recovery, DES also strictly implements and monitors the compliance of establishments in Makati to the Plastic Regulation Order under Executive Order No. 007 Series of 2012, which bans the use, sale and distribution of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials, such as Styrofoam (polystyrene), as packaging materials.
In August last year, Makati has been chosen by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) as one of the three cities as the most environmentally-progressive local government units in the Philippines.
Makati placed 19th in the We Love Cites Campaign organized by the WWF from May 13 to June 26.
The WWF cited “Makati City in the National Capital Region is developing a center to provide barangay officials with the basic knowledge and design skills to be able to promote urban design projects designed not just to be eco-friendly, but to promote the respective cultural identity of each barangay.”