I was walking along a street in Baguio City when the guy in front of me suddenly threw an empty bottle of softdrinks to the right as we passed by an electrical post. That was when I noticed them - a young couple, maybe in their early twenties. They seem not from the city but from the lowlands.
"Uy, pakipulot yon." I said. "Hey, pick that up."
"Ay!" The guy was startled. It was either he did not notice me following them or he thought that no one would care for what he did. He picked his trash up. I was "lucky" that the guy just heed what I said. Others may have answered back then just ignore me. I just hoped he did not do the improper disposal again when no one is looking.
To those who are not aware, Baguio City has Ordinance No. 54-1988 as amended by Ordinance No. 59-2020 or the city’s Anti-Littering Ordinance. It declares "unlawful for any person to spit, or expectorate discharge mucus from the nose, urinate, defecate, vomit, throw, dump, leave or scatter pieces of paper, peelings, cigarette or tobacco butts, soil or any kind of refuse or garbage in public places.” The ordinance safeguards anyone who calls the attention of violators. It has kept the city clean for a long time. Based on my observation, many of the violators are tourists.
Regardless if there is an ordinance or not, we need to be responsible about waste management. Proper waste disposal not only shows caring for our environment. It also shows our disposition, i.e. self-discipline. In simple term, it shows how clean or rubbish a person is.
To anyone like this young man who seem used to an environment of irresponsible waste disposal, let that end with you. You are way better than being a threat to mother nature. You are not a problem. You are the solution. Read that again.
