KALIBO, Aklan – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local officials in this capital town are aiming for a “waste-free” celebration of the Ati-Atihan Festival this year.
According to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu urged spectators to help maintain cleanliness during the religious revelry from Jan. 10 to 19.
“I was dismayed during the New Year’s Eve as tons of garbage were left after the celebration. I hope the religious festival would be different. I urged revelers to dispose their waste properly,” he said.
Kalibo is popularly known for the Ati-Atihan, a festival in honor of Señor Santo Niño which is considered the “mother of Philippine festivals.”
Vendors are expected to ensure proper waste management at their respective stalls during the festival, the Sangguniang Bayan said.
The Kalibo municipal council also sought help from the local police, auxiliary police and barangay tanods to support the campaign by watching out for litterbugs.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Mepania, municipal police station chief, assured merrymakers and devotees of their safety and security in the celebration.
Mepania said around 1,700 policemen were deployed to secure festival venues and strategic areas of the Ati-Atihan Festival.
The augmentation force of 1,225 from Police Regional Office and 447 uniformed personnel from different municipal police stations and the Aklan Police Provincial Office are also tasked to maintain peace and order./PN
