Quezon City cops to go ‘green’, run after litterbugs

Policemen in Quezon City will soon go “green” and run after litterbugs on the streets.

The city government will be deputizing select members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) as “green desk officers” as part of its reinforced antilittering drive.

Around 35 policemen from the city’s 12 police stations will be tasked to handle environment-related violations and cases within their jurisdiction.

Mayor Herbert Bautista on Thursday personally distributed handbooks to the policemen to familiarize them with various national and local environmental laws.

The assignment is in addition to their main task of keeping peace and order.

Bautista announced the deputization of the QCPD during the launch of the “QC Ko, Love Ko” antilittering drive recently.

A known advocate of the environment, Bautista said environment management will remain a critical foundation for the city’s urban development strategies.

“We have the laws. Let us work to make sure that these laws are enforced, without fear or favor,” Bautista added.

Quezon City has 37 environmental ordinances enacted by the city council. Of this number, 26 measures are related to solid waste management.

These local laws include city ordinances SP1203, S–2002 which grants incentives to barangays practicing best solid waste management and SP 1191, S–2002, which gives incentives to barangays utilizing their own trucks for solid waste collection.

The city government’s environmental protection and waste management department also enlisted the barangays, out-of-school-youth, schools and garbage haulers in enforcing greenie laws particularly on littering.

Bautista said 130 high school students from 13 public schools will be tasked to act as junior environment police officers who will issue violation tickets within their respective schools.

The “QC Ko, Love Ko” program will also spearhead a recyclable waste collection project in select high-end subdivisions to be carried out by 120 out-of-school-youth.

Profits generated from the sale of the recyclable wastes will go to the out-of-school-youth who participated in the program.

Quezon City’s environmental awareness program was launched to support the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s “Metro Ko, Love Ko” project.