Bishop says littering now a 'national embarrassment'

A senior Catholic bishop said littering is fast turning into a national embarrassment and he urged President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to lead a campaign against it. “It’s important for President Aquino to be at the forefront of this campaign against littering, which is becoming a national embarrassment that has to be eliminated just like graft and corruption," said Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. In an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site, Iñiguez, head of the CBCP Public Affairs Committee, also expressed support for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) drive against littering in Metro Manila. Littering had been blamed for the massive flooding in various areas in Metro Manila, especially during Earlier, the MMDA said it is considering the reimplementation of the Anti-Littering Law, which it admitted, has not been properly enforced for years. MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said they want to revive the agency’s Regulation No. 96-009, an ordinance prohibiting the dumping and throwing of garbage or any kind of waste in open or public places. Under the MMDA’s anti-littering ordinance, violators would be issued Environmental Violation Receipts (EVRs) and would have to pay fines of between P500 to P1,000. Those who cannot afford the fine will be ordered to render community services. The violators with unsettled fines will be denied from getting clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation. “That will certainly help the advocacy for the environment," Iñiguez said. –VVP, GMANews.TV