Mayor’s office asks for help to clean up villages

The Saipan Mayor’s Office is asking island residents to keep their village environs clean and clear of debris and waste by making sure to properly dispose of their refuse and by segregating them properly.

The mayor’s office conducts multiple projects in the community to beautify the island. One of these projects is going into every village to clear up government areas of weeds, grass, trash, junk cars, etc.

Saipan Mayor David Apatang has launched a slew of beautification campaigns since taking office.

So far, the load has been unbelievable for the office of the mayor, according to the office’s field members.

The mayor’s office is requesting that the community be responsible for the things that they dump and where or at the very least, segregate what is dumped and call the mayor’s office for help regarding all the debris, tin, trash, and green waste.

Field Operations director Joann Aquino showed media members around one of the most problematic areas in the village of Chalan Kanoa, which is the road behind the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council Kiosku Round House.

Green waste from the office and tin from abandoned homes were found to be illegally dumped right behind the office itself.

According to the project’s team leader, Robert Manalo, those tending to the plants that surround the office dumped all the green waste behind the kiosku. Manalo investigated that the green waste behind the building matched the trees within the office’s perimeter.

There were about five abandoned homes along the same street. It was noticed by mayor’s office field operators that each abandoned home was spotless from the inside, but had all sorts of trash surround them. According to Manalo, what looked to be the roof of the abandoned structure was just thrown in a pile beside it. This was done for all five homes.

Manalo and Aquino’s hunch is that the land owners disposed the debris on the side knowing that the mayor’s office would come around to clean it up. This saves money for the homeowner and helps them prepare their structures for renovation, but it is extremely unfair for the mayor’s office project operators. Heavy equipment is used to pick up all the waste and hazardous material. It is a waste of resources, time, and energy.

The mayor’s office had been through that same area a month prior and cleaned up the entire area. Upon returning this month, the area was just as bad as they had seen it before.

According to Aquino and Manalo, they have called the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality to come down and investigate all the trash that was found on the side of the road so that charges can be pressed on whomever the trash belongs to.

The mayor’s office is asking that the community and residents help make their job easier, or they will have to face fines imposed by BECQ.

Their job is to beautify the island through cutting the grass, picking up junk cars, and if needed, to pick up hazardous materials off of government ground. If residents need help in disposing these kinds of material, according to Aquino, the mayor’s office would be more than happy to help. All they are required to do is segregate these materials themselves.