Manila police on a mission to clean up city

Members of the Manila Police District (MPD) are literally and figuratively ridding the city streets of garbage. Every day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., they put down their guns and arm themselves with brooms and dustpans.

“When people see us sweeping the streets, they smile and tease us about it. They sometimes ask us if we have also joined the MMDA [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority] as a sideline but we don’t mind,” MPD Station 8 commander Superintendent Jimmy Tiu laughingly told the Inquirer in a recent interview.

“Everybody in my station gets involved in the [daily] cleaning, even on weekends. We sweep the streets … within our AOR [area of responsibility]. We encourage business establishments and residents in our area to make it a habit to tidy up their own backyard,” he said.

The program, a project of Mayor Alfredo Lim and MPD officer in charge and deputy director for administration Senior Supt. Alex Gutierrez, was launched on May 17 this year as part of the city’s “Linisin, Ikarangal, Maynila (Clean up, be proud of, Manila)” project.

It has earned even the support of newly installed National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Supt. Allan Purisima, who said he planned to adopt and implement the campaign in other areas in Metro Manila.

“Of course, the main purpose of the project is to clean up the environment. If the environment is clean, there is a domino effect particularly when tourists are attracted to visit the country and our policemen are inspired to work well and perform better in a clean environment,” MPD spokesperson Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo said.

He added that it was also a way for Manila lawmen to lead by example.

“There are people who do not have discipline despite all our ordinances on antilittering and smoking. They are really stubborn and hardheaded. With the MPD starting the cleanup drive, we expect and hope that our constituents will realize that they are not doing enough for the environment…,” Margarejo pointed out.

All of the MPD’s 11 police stations are involved in the campaign, deploying around 10 to 15 men to areas near marketplaces and other public places within their jurisdiction every day.

Margarejo said that all policemen take part in sweeping the streets.

“It is a form of reaching out to the community, a reminder that we all have to do our part for the city and for the environment,” he added.

At the launching of the program this month, members of the MPD Station 1 traded their guns for brooms on Juan Luna Street while those from Station 2 tidied up on C. M. Recto Avenue and the vicinity of Tutuban Mall in Divisoria. Station 3 policemen proved themselves up to the challenge in the Carriedo area while Sampaloc policemen swept the streets in the University Belt, particularly outside the University of Santo Tomas.

On the other hand, policemen from MPD Stations 5 and 9 teamed up to clean the perimeter of the San Andres Sports Complex while Station 6 lawmen dealt with Pedro Gil Street and Plaza Calderon. Station 7 personnel went on cleanup duty on Avenida and Antipolo streets while members of the MPD Sta. Mesa Station handled Plaza Avelino and the vicinity of a supermarket on Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard.

On Jesus Street, near the Pandacan Church and oil depot, Station 10 operatives wielded brooms while Station 11 personnel went on cleanup duty in the Binondo area and a portion of Sta. Cruz.

According to Margarejo, it was time for Manila to live up to its title as the country’s capital. “If you will compare Manila with other capital cities worldwide, the capital cities in other countries are clean…. It should be the same here,” he pointed out.

The MPD spokesman recalled that he had a Turkish visitor in Manila several months back who commented, “Is this your capital? Why is it like this? It is very dirty.” He admitted that he was slightly embarrassed by the remark although he agreed with the observation.

“It is time that we focus on our capital,” Margarejo said as he added, “We have to take care of Manila as the frontline of the country. After all, the capital city is the reflection of the entire nation.”