BY FELIPE V. CELINO

SAPIAN, Capiz — Local leaders of this fourth class municipality vowed to reclaim the town’s title of being the “cleanest and greenest” in the country, which it earned more than two decades ago.

Mayor Arturo Orosco and local officials will re-launch the “clean and green” program on January 26.

Orosco said he expects all barangay officials and other sectors in the community to join the program.

He hopes the town will once again win the Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran’s Cleanest and Greenest Fourth-Class Municipality in the Philippines.

Sapian was once put into the limelight for winning the award for two straight years in the 1990s, he said.

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

About 500 seedlings of different kinds of trees donated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be made available for the program re-launching.

These seedlings will be planted along national roads here, Orosco said.

During a meeting of the One Capiz Foundation, the mayor and his wife Dr. Evangeline Oñas–Orosco, were urged to improve the image of this town through the production of oysters, green shells and papaya, among others.

Dr. Orosco said this town has no tourist attraction to be proud of.

However, she believes that 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.