Radaza chides Sitoy on ‘dirty city’ comment

LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza took exception to a statement that described the city as “dirty” and her failure for cleaning up its streets.

Radaza said Cordova town Mayor Adelino Sitoy was quoted last week as saying, “Kakita ka sa Lapu-Lapu? Pagkahugaw. Babaye man unta ang mayor (Have you seen Lapu-Lapu City? It’s dirty. To think they have a woman mayor).”

Sitoy reportedly made the comments in response to the clearing of a dumpsite in one of their barangays to give way to an P80-million port project. He said he was misquoted.

Sitoy said he wants to apologize to Mayor Radaza, whom he credited with helping a son finish a thesis.

“There’s no reason to criticize her, I often talk with her husband, Rep. Arturo Radaza,” he said.

Still, Radaza wasn’t mollified. “Why would he single us out? I don’t interfere in other local government units (LGUs), why would he say that? I’m not pretty, did he fall in love with me?” an amused Radaza said.

The Lapu-Lapu City mayor admitted there were lapses but they are doing their best to clean up the city streets.

“We have our City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO), we have our eco-wardens, we have seminars in every barangay, and seriously we are going after violators of the Solid Waste Management Act,” Radaza said.

She said they organized volunteer groups such as Task Force Kalikasan, the Eco-Tourism Police and other volunteer groups to help arrest violators.

Radaza said a barangay official in Poblacion named Allen Dimataga Jr. was arrested for violating the Solid Waste Management law. Dimataga posted a P12,000 bail on two counts of violating the law. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza