More than a thousand volunteers who included city and barangay officials, teachers and students of public schools and the Bacolod City College, and members of civic clubs cleaned major city streets surrounding the downtown area, Bacolod public plaza and the BREDCO and SM area Saturday, a press release from City Hall said.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he is very happy that the Clean and Green Task Force, led by overall chairperson Myrna Servando of the Lions’ Club and Councilors Em Ang, Sonya Verdeflor and Mona Dia Jardin, have once again mobilized successfully the volunteers who did the menial tasks with dignity and enthusiasm.

Equipped with simple tools and implements, the volunteers picked up litter, swept sidewalks, weeded and trimmed grasses and shrubs, scraped posters, and tore down illegally strung streamers, the press release said.

Some groups, painted the gutters with white paint.

“The clean-up drive is good for our city because it is supportive of our tourism and call centers, the main drivers of our local economy,” Leonardia said. “No doubt, a cleaner and greener environment, coupled with safety and orderliness, will attract more tourists, visitors and investors to our city.”

Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson led the cadres of volunteers consisting city and barangay officials and employees as well as members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Sayson, with Servando, Ang, Verdeflor and Jardin said they are hopeful that as the Bacoleños feel the value of cleaner surroundings, they will do their share towards maintaining it.

They also hope that Bacolod residents will soon start cleaning their own surroundings and handle their wastes and garbage properly.

Sayson said “The city officials and employees are all ready to make more sacrifices because their efforts will not go to waste. I know that businesses, organizations and institutions will soon start to respond positively to the requests of the Clean and Green Task Force for cooperation and support.”

Servando said she is quite satisfied with the enthusiastic response of city and barangay officials and employees to the call of the mayor for a cleaner and greener City of Smiles.*

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