’99 Presidential Award for the
Cleanest and Greenest
Highly Urbanized City of the Philippines

1.0    BACKGROUND

1.1  Brief Profile of Cebu City

Cebu City, the regional capital of Central Visayas, lies in the heart of the Philippine Archipelago, 364 miles south of Manila.  Located midway of the east coast of Cebu Island, it is bounded on the north by the Municipality of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela and Mandaue City, on the east and south by the Strait of Bohol, on the southwest by the Municipality of Talisay, and on the west by the Municipality of Toledo City and Talamban.

The City is politically divided into 80 barangays, which are clustered into two congressional districts, the North District with 46 barangays and the more densely populated South District with 34.  While the city is predominantly urban, 31 of its 80 barangays (38%) are located in the uplands.

The population of Cebu City has grown in leaps and bounds, making it the second largest metropolis in the country.  Its strong attraction for migrants from the rural areas of Cebu Province and the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao has helped to make it grow at 2.2 percent per annum in the last decade.  The population density averages out to 1,856 persons per square kilometers with a total land area of 328.80 sq. km. and the city has a very high literacy rate of 97 percent.

1.2  Focus of Assessment

      Physical condition, taking into account the general cleanliness and urban space green, which is 70% is the primary concern of the Regional Assessment Committee.  Support systems (30%) provided by the city government on programs and projects on Gawad Pangulo sa KAPALIGIRAN (Clean and Green), waste management and efforts specifically or structure, budgetary support, equipment, monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and community mobilization and people’s participation in environmental protection and management formed part of the assessment.

1.3 Assessment Methodology

      The two highly urbanized cities of Region 7, Mandaue City and Cebu City were assessed with the same Regional Assessment Committee members (DILG, PIA, DENR, DOH and ALU-TUCP).  This strategy is to maximize objectivity and consistency of the rating of the two cities.

      The team has conducted records evaluation on the structure, legislative and budgetary supports such as the enactment of ordinances, resolutions and executive orders relative to the Gawad Pangulo sa KAPALIGIRAN (Clean and Green) Program.  Random interviews with some local officials, public market stall holders, ambulant vendors and people in the community to assess their level of awareness and involvement of the program were made.  On-site visits to projects and facilities such as public market, slaughterhouse, dumpsite, nursery, pocket forests, and others were also conducted.

      Before making the final ratings, the team completed first the on-site visits of the two HUCs.  This is done to enable the rater to make a comparative assessment and rate each city in relation to the other.

      The results were finalized on September 14, 1999 and submitted for review and approval by the Regional Search Committee.

2.0    SUMMARY AND FINDINGS

2.1  Physical Condition

a)                  General Cleanliness

1.       Absence of eyesores.  No unsightly poster/ads, graffiti, dilapidated structures and abandoned junks.

Practically, there is an absence of unsightly posters, advertisement billboards, graffiti and abandoned junks.  Concrete fences along some areas are painted with morals.  Some open spaces are utilized for the planting of fruits and vegetables.

2.       Well-maintained drainage and sewerage system.

Drainage system in the public market, slaughterhouse and other public places is properly maintained as can be observed during the assessment.  There is abundant flow of water in public market and slaughterhouse.  Maintenance men of the city government do regular de-clogging of drainage canal.  Market stall owners and vendors also help prevent the clogging of canals by placing their solid waste in a trashcan.

3.       Presence of well-kept public toilets

Comfort rooms in public market, park and plazas and other areas of the city are well maintained and generally clean.  Water is provided in all these comfort rooms.  Toilet maintainers are always available.

4.       Clean Public Market

Generally the public markets are clean. Water supply is present in these markets especially in the meat and fish section.  Garbage are kept in receptacles and collected regularly.

5.       Clean slaughterhouse

The slaughterhouse is generally clean.  No presence of slaughterhouse wastes and fowl odor.  Water supply is provided.  Animals ready for slaughter are kept in a place where proper sanitations and cleanliness are observed.

6.       Presence of fresh receptacles in public places.

Trash receptacles are strategically present in public places, thereby, minimizing littering and making garbage collection is systematic nad easy.

7.       Presence of a Proper Garbage Collection and Disposal System.

Scheduled trips of compactor trucks carrying loads of waste materials for disposal to dumpsite is done by the Department Public Services men.  Residents and commercial establishments were advised of the collection time.  Garbage should be packed in a plastic bag and placed in front in their residents or establishment only in time of collection.  Garbage trucks howl garbage to the sanitary landfill of the city.

8.       Absence of uncollected garbage and litter.

The city government is strictly enforcing their ordinance on anti-littering.  Anybody caught littering should be penalized.  This strategy helped minimize littering.  Generally, uncollected garbage and litter are not evident within the built-up area.  This can be attributed to the availability of street cleaners that regularly sweep the thoroughfares and plazas.

b)                 Urban Space Greening

1.       Well Maintained Green-Belt Areas

The City Hall compound and the City Plaza is well maintained planted with trees, shrubs and ornamental plants which provide shade and beauty to the entire surrounding.  Another properly maintained area of the city is at the reclamation area wherein the city nursery is located.  Regular budget of the city is appropriated for the cleanliness and maintenance of these areas.

2.       Tree-lined thoroughfares/street islands/rotunda planted with ornamental plants/ trees.

Trees and ornamental plants grown in straight lines along the main streets of the city.  Rotundas are planted with ornamental plants.  Hedges are well trimmed.

3.       Parks and playgrounds, historical/cultural landmarks and other public places planted with trees, shrubs and ornamental plants.

Cebu City is famous for its historical and cultural landmarks.  Fort San Pedro, a tourist attraction is beautifully landscaped with trees, ornamental plants and ledges properly maintained.  Adjacent to Fort San Pedro is the Plaza Independencia with century-old rain trees (acacia) sporadically sprawling which gives shade to promeraders strolling during holidays and weekends.  Aside from trees that thrive in the Cebu City Hall plaza, ornamental plants are well maintained and add beauty to the place.

4.       Reforestation/tree planting in public/private places.

One of the frequently visited place in Cebu City is the ‘D Family Park.  It is owned and maintained by the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) located in the northern part of city.  It is a 23-hectare lot where trees thrive beautifully and in abundance.  It is a haven for sports enthusiasts because of its well-developed ground for games and a very nice swimming pool located in one portion of the area.

Formed part of the area is the well-maintained nursery and an aviary.

2.2    Support Systems

1.      Provided by the city government on programs and projects on Gawad Pangulo sa KAPALIGIRAN (Clean and Green), waste management and other related efforts.

a)  Organizational Structure

     The Cebu City Multi sectoral Environmental Protection Committee took an active role in the implementation of the Gawad Pangulo sa KAPALIGIRAN Program of the city.

     This committee is chaired by the City Mayor with the following members:

•    Chairman of the Committee on Public Services and Environmental Sanggunian Panlungsod as Vice Chairman

•   Cebu City Attorney

•   Cebu City Agriculturist

•   Cebu City Engineer

•   President of the League of Barangay Captains

•   DENR Representative

•   Youth Representative

•   Religious Sector Representative

•   DECS Representative

•   NGO Representative

•   Vendors/ Urban Poor Representative

•   Cebu City Police Command Representative

•   State Colleges and University Representative

b)  Budgetary Support

     Huge amount from the city coffer was appropriated for the implementation of various programs and projects supporting the Gawad Pangulo’s KAPALIGIRAN (Clean and Green) such as solid wasted maintenance, sanitary landfill maintenance of the City Abattoir and drainage canals, city nurseries and others relative to the program.

c)  Equipment

     To maintain and sustain the Gawad Pangulo sa KAPALIGIRAN Program, compactor trucks, payloaders, bulldozer, trailers, lawn mowers and dump trucks are made available by the city government.

d) Monitoring and Enforcement Mechanism

     The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City had enacted several resolutions and ordinances including appropriations in support of the Gawad Pangulo sa KAPALIGIRAN Program.

e)    Community Mobilization and People’s Participation in Environmental and Protection and Management

Based upon random interviews of the people in the community by the Evaluation Team we observed that the residents are fully aware of their role in the cleaning and greening of Cebu City.

source DILG 7

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