A PICTURE posted recently on Facebook site run by a group of
Mambulaoans showed an estero, or creek, beginning to choke with rubbish
– obviously dumped by households sitting on either side of the waterway.
Although the exact location of this estero has not been pinpointed, it
drew angry comments from those who saw it – particularly overseas Mambulaoans.
It could have been in their own neighborhood bisected by waterways.
Their reactions to the scene depicted by the picture were nothing but
disgust and outrage.
They were appalled because despite the local government’s effort to
encourage the members of the community to look after their rubbish responsibly
at that, so that it would not spill out of their households, a big volume of
such still managed to end up in creeks and water tributaries.
That the waste eventually finding its way into the nearby Mambulao Bay,
which is already dying little by little from mining silt pollution and, yes,
rubbish pollution, is already a foregone conclusion.
There are a number of water tributaries across the poblacion of Jose
Panganiban that snake their way through heavily populated residential areas,
and flowing into the bay waters.
Although the waste’s volume would still not be enough to totally block
a free flow of water that could eventually cause flooding within its immediate
vicinity during storms or prolonged rainfalls, this should not be a reason for
residents to sit back and feel less-responsible as to what harm this rubbish
may cause their neighbors later.
In a community like Jose Panganiban which pride itself with mostly
educated and responsible individuals, this is not acceptable.
Obviously, however, the issue of wayward household rubbish treks back
to the baranggay authorities who should know better.
The piling up of wastes and refuse in community tributaries that are
later dragged into the main estero points to one thing – that the monitoring of
waste disposal as one of the baranggay’s everyday responsibilities has simply
failed.
Or that they have been immune to this anomaly.
Of course, concerned baranggay units – when the heat of criticisms has
become unbearable for them -- may conveniently reason out that they don’t have
enough people to adequately face the challenge of the task.
Have they not heard of the “bayanihan” spirit? This pooling of wits,
brawn and sweat has become the last resort in dealing with a problem
confronting a community. And it has not failed to do the trick.
Community “bayanihan” should be plucked from under a pile inside the proverbial
“baul”, dusted off and once again put to work.
Unless the local baranggay leaders have become less credible to be able
to draw community support, there’s no reason for the residents not to spare
their time and exert all-out efforts to resolve a common problem facing the
community.
The presence of rubbish anywhere – be it in front and in back yards of
houses, along roadsides and on the roads, in the market place and in spots next
to a shop or store – must not be tolerated.
And more so with the rubbish ending up in esteros only to deserve just
a passing glance.
How much more education and re-education does the community need to
understand that a piece of rubbish accumulating into a heap later could breed
unwanted health problems that nobody wants?
But if education and re-education is the one remaining option left to
spare the community of diseases spawned by improperly disposed of waste matter,
so be it.
The municipal government of Jose Panganiban must see to it that this is
done once and for all.
For all you know, an ill poor member of the community could end up on
the lap of Mayor Dong Padilla, who has no recourse but to send him/her to the
doctor at the cost of the local government, or of his own wallet.
- A P Hernandez
To comment on this piece, please email: ahernandez@thenational.com.pg and alfredophernandez@y7mail.com
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