BY FELIPE V. CELINO

SAPIAN, Capiz — Local leaders in this town, in cooperation with the private sector, launched the “Clean and Green” program on January 26.

This fourth-class municipality led by Mayor Arturo Orosco vowed to reclaim its title of being the “cleanest and greenest” in the country, which it earned more than two decades ago.

All barangay officials and other sectors in the town participated in the activities held during the launching.

The program aims to beautify the national roads and highways within this town.

With this, Orosco said he hopes this town will once again win the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran’s Cleanest and Greenest Fourth-Class Municipality in the Philippines.

Some 500 seedlings of different species of trees courtesy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were planted along select roads.

The mayor’s wife, Dr. Evangeline Oñas-Orosco, also supports the program.

Sapian was once put in the limelight for winning the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran for two straight years in the 1990s, he said.

It was during then Mayor Remedios Oliveja-Oñas’ time when Sapian garnered the prestigious recognition.

In a recent meeting of the One Capiz Foundation, Judy Araneta-Roxas urged Orosco to improve the image of this town through the production of oysters, green shells and papaya, among others.

Sapian has no tourist attraction to be proud of, this was noted.

However, Dr. Orosco believes Sapian can regain the title with the full cooperation of the community.
The mayor’s wife said in Australia, plants were grown along the road, helping beautify the surroundings and attract more tourists.

“Beautifying national highways and other thoroughfares can help attract local and foreign tourists,” stressed Dr. Orosco.

She lamented the unimproved state of national roads along Barangays Dapdapan, Maninang, Damayan and Bilao.

These areas, she said, will soon become an eyesore because the barangay officials and the residents forget to maintain their cleanliness.

Meanwhile, Orosco vowed to support public-friendly projects and programs of the provincial government.

“Let us forget politics. It’s time to help and support our constituents, especially the poor,” the mayor said./PN