Over 3,000 commit to for 1020 on 10/20 cleanup

Saipan Tribune, Wednesday, October 18, 2006
By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

Beautify CNMI! may have already surpassed its target of getting at least 1,020 volunteers for the islandwide cleanup this Friday, as over 3,000 volunteers have already pledged their support for the activity.

Beautify CNMI! Restoration Committee chair Angelo Villagomez disclosed to the Rotary Club of Saipan that Kagman alone would have 2,000 volunteers cleaning up the area. “We should've made it a 20/20 then,” he quipped.

Villagomez said that, although there are only a little over 300 individuals who have officially signed up to volunteer, they have received oral pledges from groups who have committed themselves to Friday's cleanup.

Villagomez, together with fellow officers Tina Sablan and Rep. Cinta Kaipat, said the committee is still asking for more participants from the local community in this first-ever CNMI-wide anti-litter campaign by adopting a beach, road or park, planting trees, painting over abandoned or graffiti-plagued buildings, or just beautifying a residential or commercial area.

Beautify CNMI! aims to recruit 1,020 volunteers for this beautification activity, hence its name: “1020 on 10/20.” Online registration is also available through the group's website www. beautifycnmi.com.

“It is the intent of Beautify CNMI! to infect the beauty virus to everyone in our Commonwealth. This is our home, we should take pride and work cooperatively to make it beautiful for us and for our visitors to enjoy,” Kaipat said.

The Litter Control Apprehending Officers and Public Safety officers will not tolerate any type of littering activity to give new meaning to Zero Tolerance starting Nov. 1. In the CNMI, the improper disposal of trash or garbage has a minimum fine of $200.

Beautify CNMI! is a coalition of concerned citizens, private groups, and government entities united to enhance the CNMI’s natural beauty and foster community pride in its residents and visitors. For more information or to join any activity of the group visit www.beautifycnmi.com.