THE Cebu City Govern-ment’s Devotee City opened for the 15th year yesterday as shelter for Sto. Niño devotees who don’t have a place to stay in the city.
And as a house rule, the occupants must observe segregation of garbage.
City Councilor Edwin Jagmoc Sr. said this is to teach the people that there is a law that requires garbage segregation.
The rule on waste segregation, he said, is also in line with the 2010 Fiesta Señor’s focus on environmental advocacy.
The Basilica del Sto. Niño, in celebrating the 444th feast, aimed to “put a social dimension” in the celebration by raising the consciousness of the people about climate change and global warming.
Ordinance
“Segregation was included para sad bisan sila taga probinsya masayod sila sa Republic Act (RA) 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001). Naa man sad tay ordinansya gawas sa national law. Tabangan nato sila nga makit-an unsaon ang saktong paghipos sa basura (Let’s help occupants of the Devotee City be aware of our ordinance on garbage),” Jagmoc said.
Jagmoc heads the City Council committee on social services, whose task includes reducing the garbage thrown in the Inayawan landfill each day.
Of the 500 tons of garbage generated each day in the city, 50.56 percent are biodegradable, 25 percent are recyclable, and the remaining 24.44 percent are considered residual wastes, or those that could not be recycled or reused.
Biodegradable
“Ilain-lain ang inyohang mga basura sama sa malata, dili malata, ug magamit pa (Segregate your garbage into biodegradable and non-biodegradable),” read number 18 of the house rules that were written in Cebuano and printed on bond paper.
Each of the 84 container vans that serve as shelters, located beside the Fort San Pedro by the Aduana building, has a copy of the list pasted on its door.
“Importante ang pag-segregate sa basura, ug gusto nato nga kana makat-onan usab sa nga mosulod sa Devotee City (Garbage segregation is important),” Jagmoc said.
The Devotee City was set up to stop poor devotees from sleeping on the streets during the Sinulog.
“Nakita man gud nato ang mga daghang tawo nanghigda lang sa vicinity sa (Basilica del) Sto. Niño og sa mga kadalanan (We saw devotees sleeping in the vicinity of the Basilica del Sto. Niño and in the streets),” Jagmoc said.
Most of those who frequent the Devotee City are vendors of candles, buri hats and other items. (RHM/Sun.Star Cebu)
