The city government through the General Services Office intensified a program to gather discarded tires from households in an effort to curb dengue fever incidents which, as of last week, have reached the epidemic level.
GSO head Eugene Buyucan said as of June 17, they have collected 497 used tires from barangays days after Mayor Benjamin Magalong directed barangay officials to designate pick-up points for residents to deposit their discards and to coordinate collection by the GSO.
“The tires came from Loakan Proper, Magsaysay, North Sanitary Camp, and Irisan barangays. The collection is ongoing now at Irisan and various barangays upon their coordination with our office,” Buyucan said.
Used tires along with uncovered drums, bottles, and plants like fortune plants and bromeliads had been identified as common mosquito breeding sites found in most places where clustering of cases had been occurring.
Buyucan said the collected tires will be used in landscaping the Irisan eco-park, the plan for which integrates the use of environment-friendly materials in sloping areas and others.
He said excess tires can be used for other programs possibly livelihood ventures for women, youth, and other organizations being served by the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development (OCSWDO).
“We have coordinated with the OCSWDO so the city can conduct trainings on handicrafts using tires for materials like furniture and other products or on environmental sloping techniques using the same materials for those who are interested,” Buyucan said.
He said his office will continue receiving requests for pick-up from the barangays in the coming days. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
