By Rene V. Carbayas
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The local
government unit of Zamboanga city and its volunteers ensure maintenance of
cleanliness and sanitation in the biggest evacuation center at Joaquin Enriquez
Memorial Sports Complex near the city’s Sangguniang Panlungsod.
During the visit of the roving team from the
Philippine Information Agency-IX Wednesday morning, an improved sanitation
condition has been observed at the evacuation center as compared to the stinky
condition Tuesday evening.
The Office of the City Environment and
Natural Resources (OCENR) led in the setting up of some forty yellow trash bins
and spread around the evacuation area hoping to maintain sanitation.
Officials said they are only hoping that
people will cooperate and use the trash bins to dispose their garbage.
The general services unit of the city
government, including some employees, was also seen conducting clean-up
activities in the area.
Social Welfare personnel have been improving
their system in the distribution of food and family access cards in order to
command more order in crowd control. Volunteers from some schools in the city
were also present assisting government in various activities inside the
evacuation center.
Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) from
affected barangays of Rio Hondo and Makiri also began to arrive in the
evacuation center. Some 7,000 IDPs were estimated to have been housed at the
sports complex. Unsanitary practices occasionally generated from this huge
number of distressed individuals in which the local health department and the
local government hope to avoid and protect people from sickness and diseases.
Meanwhile, Social Welfare Sec Dinky Soliman
visited the evacuation center at noon Wednesday to personally assess the
situation and condition of the IDPs at the sports complex. (PIA9)