MAKATI Mayor Abby Binay has ordered the clearing of the city’s streets from various obstructions and the arrest of 87 individuals and the owners of two establishments found violating the Makati Solid Waste Management Code during continuous sidewalk-recovery operations from January to July of this year.
The city’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) reported on Monday that a total of 292 streets were cleared from various obstructions.
The move is line with Binay’s directive to “maintain walkable streets” throughout the city.
Binay reiterated her call to the citizens of Makati to cooperate with their respective barangays and report those who dump wastes on sidewalks or encroach on them in deliberate disregard of the law.
“It would be in the best interest of city residents to help us maintain clean, safe and walkable streets. Please do your part by keeping your own frontage clear of any kind of obstruction or encroachment on public domain. I also encourage you to report those who deliberately disregard the law and cause unsafe and unsanitary conditions on our streets,” the mayor said.
DES Head Leopoldo Parumog said as of July 24, its Solid Waste Management Division had conducted sidewalk-clearing operations in 183 streets in District I and 109 streets in District II this year.
During the same period, a total of 15 individuals and two establishments were apprehended in District I for violating the “Maintenance of Sidewalk” provision under City Ordinance 2003-095, the Makati Solid Waste Management Code.
In District II, 72 individual violators were arrested.
In District I, the DES had operated in 17 barangays, namely Tejeros, with 38 streets cleared; Poblacion, 31 streets; Pio del Pilar, 29; Olympia, 24; Palanan, 20; Bangkal, 8; Valenzuela, 6; Magallanes, San Lorenzo and Singkamas, 5 each; Kasilawan and San Antonio, 4 each; Carmona and La Paz, 3 each; and Bel-Air, San Isidro and Santa Cruz, 2 streets each.
In District II, the DES had carried out sidewalk-clearing operations in 11 barangays: Guadalupe Nuevo with 17 streets cleared; Rizal, 14; Cembo, 12; Pembo and Guadalupe Viejo, 11 each; Pinagkaisahan and Pitogo, 10 each; West Rembo, 5; Comembo, 4; and East Rembo and South Cembo, 3 streets each.
Among the street obstructions and eyesores removed were assorted scrap metals, tires, wood and scraps, debris, chairs and tables of eateries occupying sidewalks, food stalls and food carts.
Chapter 4, Section 12 of the Code requires household owners, caretakers, tenants, establishment owners, managers or any person responsible for the operations of establishments within Makati to maintain their frontage and keep immediate surroundings clean and sanitary.
The Code imposes a P1,000 fine or imprisonment between 5 days and 30 days, or both at the discretion of the court on individual violators. The owners or managers of errant establishments face a P5,000 fine or imprisonment from 30 days to one year, or both, at the discretion of the court.
During the first 6 months of Binay’s incumbency from July to December 2016, the DES cleared 271 streets in different barangays. The city-sidewalk recovery drive is in line with the thrust of the current administration to restore order and discipline in the city’s streets.