Baguio steps up used tires collection to curb dengue

The city government through the General Services Office intensified a program to gather discarded tires from households in an effort to curb dengue fever incidents which as of last week have reached the epidemic level.

GSO Office Eugene Buyucan said they have collected over a hundred used tires from two barangays as of Thursday after Mayor Benjamin Magalong directed barangays officials to designate pick-up points for residents to deposit their discards and to coordinate collection by the GSO. 

Used tires along with uncovered drums, bottles and plants like fortune plants and bromeliads had been identified as common mosquito breeding sites found in most places where clustering of cases had been occurring.

Buyucan said the collected tires will be used in landscaping the Irisan eco-park, the plan for which integrates the use of environmentally friendly materials in sloping and others. 

He said excess tires can be used for other programs possibly livelihood ventures for women, youth and other organizations being served by the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development.

“We have coordinated with the OCSWDO so the city can conduct trainings on handicrafts using tires for materials like furniture and other products or on environmental sloping techniques using the same materials for those who are interested,” Buyucan said. 

He said his office will continue receiving requests for pick-up from the barangays in the coming days. – Aileen P. Refuerzo