Puerto Princesa was like many other cities in the country
before Oplan Linis. Its streets and public markets were
dirty; its port was in no better condition and its coastal
lines littered with trash. Barely four moths after the program
was launched in August 1, 1992, Puerto Princesa was radically
transformed into a clean city. Oplan Linis has brought honor
and prestige to a place previously known as a haven of prisoners
and breeding place of malaria-causing mosquitoes. As a result,
the health personnel and private medical practitioners noted
reduced incidence of stomach illness, flu, and gastro-enteritis.
There was no reported outbreaks of contagious diseases where
there used to be one per year affecting 100 families in
the squatter areas. The city had become a favorite place
for official functions, tourism, recreation and Lakbay Aral
(study tour) site thereby generating employment for the
residents.
Central to the concept of Oplan Linis is value formation
through intensive information and education campaigns. With
school children as the primary targets, the program was
pursued relentlessly by the government in partnership with
the schools, churches, businesses, NGOs and the tri-media.
The Anti-littering Ordinance is strictly enforced. Nobody
is spared including the mayor and a visiting senator. Aside
from cleanliness and sanitation, the other components of
Oplan Linis included beautification, saving the bay and
coastal areas and close monitoring of compliance. Behind
the success of the program are the people themselves who
are involved in cleaning up their immediate surroundings
and not throwing trash anywhere. There is ownership of the
program and collective pride in the discipline demonstrated
by a large majority of the city residents.
