MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JOSE (MALAMIG)

Being epuipped with own mobile patrol trikes, ambulance, farm implements and being the territory of the newly constructed San Pablo City General Hospital and Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo (DLSP), ABC President Gener B. Amante often receive a witticism from pals that his barangay could now survive as an independent municipality. It’s simply a joke but there’s shadow of truth in it.

When I visited him these past holidays, I saw how the place improved. The surroundings are clean, peaceful and orderly. The woman sector especially the elderly had organized themselves into groups that oversee the environment. They even designed a program that will promote camaraderie among the residents and at the same time cultivate hidden talents of the youth. They are now in the stage of preparing for a Barangay Margi Gras in March to coincide with the celebration of the barrio fiesta, according to ABC President.

I asked Chairman Gener who incidentally is my ninong why garbage is not a problem in Malamig. First he smiled then shared to us his “secret”. According to him, every time somebody indiscriminately throw garbage on the road or anywhere in the barangay, he would summon the person and talk to him/her with a stern warning that in the event he/she would do (throwing of garbage) it again, the said person would wake up the following morning with all the garbage piled up in their yard. He makes it a point to have the agreement in writing signed by the subject and it has been proven effective.

If the adopted technique of Chairman Amante is convincing and adequate to make San Jose clean and orderly, why not the Sangguniang Panlunsod headed by Vice Mayor Frederick Martin A. Ilagan adopt its own system and programme or simply copy it so we can get rid of all the thrashes and garbages in the periphery of the city proper? After all, after proper representation they can avail of the services of the GSO, PSAF, the policemen, the BPSO and the CIO in the dessimination of information.

This 2009, it’s about time that the Sangguniang Panlunsod design a scheme that will make the City of San Pablo totally clean and orderly. If the cities of Marikina, Caloocan, Parañaque, Puerto Princesa and Davao among others and the Municipality of Los Baños can do it, why can’t we? It’s a shame if we cannot!

Just this past two weeks, the San Pablo City Shopping Mall and the street surrounding it were stuffed with thrashes caused by vendors. I guess it could have been avoided had the vendors been reminded to place their respective garbages in trash bags so it would be easy for the garbage collectors to pick it up. The information could have been given before or during the issuance of permits. Mahirap ba ‘yon?

Well, if the Sanggunian Panlunsod of San Pablo City cannot even have the required quorum for their regular session, it would be “suntok sa buwan” to expect them to look into the cleanliness and orderliness of the city, am I wrong Ma’am Capuno?(Mel B. Evangelista, Laguna Courier)