SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has created an anti-littering task force to effectively implement its no-littering policy and has set fines to discourage violations.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the agency has begun enforcing a policy that prohibits littering, and dumping or throwing of garbage, rubbish or any kind of waste in parks, roads, beach, forests, rivers, streams or on any open or public place in the Subic Bay Freeport.
It is also illegal under the policy for anybody to urinate, defecate, dispose of cigarette butts, or spit in public places.
To ensure the effective implementation of the no-littering policy, the SBMA chief issued an order creating the SBMA Anti-Littering Task Force, which is manned by marshals from the SBMA Ecology Center, Law Enforcement Department, Maintenance and Transportation Department, and Tourism Department.
Eisma said these personnel are deputized to apprehend violators and recommend issuance of Notice of Violation (NoV) to any Subic Bay Freeport Zone establishment caught violating the policy.
She also said the agency has imposed a fine of P1,500 and four hours of community service for individual offenders and pet handlers found violating the policy.
The same fine of P1,500 and four hours of community service will be imposed for Subic Bay Freeport residents for littering, or improper or untimely stacking of garbage outside their residences.
Meanwhile, stiffer penalty will be given to violators among business establishments in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone: P50,000 per day of violation for each count of littering, improper or untimely stacking of garbage outside the establishment, and for garbage with leaking foul odor.
Eisma urged the public to help in enforcement and report incidents of littering, including the license plate number of violators, to the Law Enforcement Department at 911 (landline) or 9111 (mobile) or to the “No Kalat” hotline at 09176852528.
The no-littering policy took off from SBMA’s War on Waste (WOW) program, as well as the agency’s thrust to enhance public awareness on environmental “malasakit” (empathy).
Last month, the SBMA banned single-use plastic like stirrers, forks and spoons, straws, cups, and take-out food bags inside SBMA workplaces. Accordingly, the SBMA advised canteens, stores and other food establishments here to use alternative food packaging.
“We should show good example and walk the talk,” Eisma said, as she encouraged SBMA employees and Freeport companies to join the “straw-less” drive, the ban on single-use plastics, and the agency’s recyclables collection program.
