BAGUIO CITY – drivers may face sanctions for not providing garbage receptacles inside their Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) and commuters will be sanctioned for throwing litters out of a moving vehicle.

Section 3 of City Ordinance Number 32 s 1995 approved by Mayor Mauricio Domogan eight years ago is now being monitored strictly.

In fact, the ordinance will be strengthened in order to instill discipline in the heart of every resident and bring back Baguio as the cleanest and greenest city.

Commuters caught throwing litter out of a moving vehicle will be slapped a fine of P200.00.

Litters include candy wrapper, paper, plastic and anything that is thrown indiscriminately, the most common of which is cigarette butt.

Drivers and operators of PUV's, while traversing city streets are tasked to inform their passengers to throw their litter in receptacles provided in order to refrain from throwing it outside.

PUV's without garbage receptacles installed in their vehicles will also be fined P500.00.

Section 4 of said ordinance also mandates jeepney, taxi, bus operators and drivers associations with a loading or unloading terminal and plying the city's street to assign members to clean litter and garbage the route they are traversing.

Refusal or failure to cooperate in the matter of cleaning the city street principally traversed by vehicles of their members would mean revocation, denial and non-renewal of the association's application or permit for loading, unloading, terminal or parking station in the city.

Presently, the Sangunian Panglungsod Research division is conducting Legislative Tracking and information dissemination on the implementation of said litter law.

The city is considering amendments that will strengthen its implementation and is contemplating on higher penalties for litter bugs. ***paul rillorta