Labella: Don’t swim in dirty waters

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will not allow street dwellers and volunteers to swim in the waterways that are full of trash, as it would risk their health.

The mayor clarified that the city government did not order the volunteers and street dwellers to swim and collect garbage from the waterways.

“It was on their own volition that they did that. Maybe they were just excited to support the program of the city government and if I were there, I would have prevented them from doing it because it’s so unhealthy, unsanitary,” he told reporters.

Last Sunday, the city’s Department of Public Services asked the 14 street dwellers to participate in the cleanup of the river under the Food for Work program.

DPS Head Engr. Joel Biton said the Food for Work program would allow the street dwellers to collect garbage from the waterways in exchange of sardines.

The photos posted on social media presenting the cleanup drive went viral as the street dwellers were seen like bathing in the waterways filled with garbage.

Labella admitted that he did not like the incident. But he believed that the street dwellers were excited to participate in the program of the city.

“I admonished them not to do that again. Those are street dwellers. Maybe they just wanted to show they are cooperative, that they are sincere also. They are so excited, eager beavers,” he said.

“While I admire their enthusiasm, I also did not like what they did. They are overdoing it. They did not realize the consequence,” the mayor added.

Biton already said that the city’s DPS will not allow the street dwellers to swim in the waterways again as it would risk their health.

He said the city government, through the City Health Department, will provide the volunteers medicines and immunization to prevent illnesses in the conduct of the cleanup.

Biton said the city will continue to implement the Food for Work program to clean the waterways in the areas of Tinago, V. Rama, Ermita, and Pasil.

Last Sunday, he said the city collected 5.3 tons of garbage along Tejero creek.

Biton said there are about 20,000 boxes of sardines under the “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko” program by the previous administration.