Gordon bats for clean up holiday
to remove mud and garbage deposit in Ondoy's wake

Senator Richard J. Gordon ( Ind. ) today called for a clean up holiday to remove the mud and garbage deposit left by floods caused by the heavy rains of typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila and the affected nearby provinces.

Gordon, also chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), stressed the need to clear up the mud and debris left in the streets of affected areas to prevent the onset of epidemic of different diseases and for easier traffic flow.

"We should have a clean up holiday. In countries with cold winters, people set aside time for cleaning the house from top to bottom every year. They call it spring cleaning because they usually do that at the start of spring time," he said.

"In the country, we can also designate a day for cleaning up our houses and our surroundings. Huge piles of mixed garbage along the streets expose residents to disease-causing bacteria and chemicals. They also block smooth traffic flow and their removal would ensure faster delivery of relief operations to those affected by Ondoy," he added.

Stressing the importance of hygiene and sanitation to prevent people from acquiring diseases, the PNRC led clean up drives in evacuation centers. PNRC volunteers installed water bladders and portable toilets or portalets in several centers.. They also distributed garbage plastics to ensure sanitary disposal of trash.

Gordon said the government and the people could start working together in rebuilding the nation by cleaning up the jumble left in Ondoy's wake.

"The people should be instructed to stock up on food and warned not to go out of their homes and clean their houses. This way they would not add to the traffic congestion," he said.

"The government, for its part, should deploy trucks that would haul the deposits of mud and garbage from the streets while the people are indoors. It should also deploy fire trucks to help the people remove mud residue from their homes," he said.

The senator stressed that people should be part of the process of the nation's transformation. Hence, they should do their share of carrying the burden instead of merely relying on the government.