By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE organizers of the Most Beautiful Village Contest 2007 are hoping to develop “an ethic of responsibility” among the people of the CNMI.
DEQ spokeswoman Reina Camacho said she is confident cleanups will continue in the villages even after the contest.
People interested in entering the contest may sign up their village at the DEQ office in Gualo Rai.
The winning village will get a curbside recycling pilot program and permanent recognition through a “welcome to the most beautiful village” sign installed along the road leading to that village.
Curbside recycling is among the ideas discussed during the meetings of the volunteer group Beautify CNMI!, and it involves the organized disposal of dry garbage along street curbs in the villages.
“We are hoping to encourage an ethic of responsibility,” said DEQ recycling and pollution prevention coordinator Tina Sablan, who is also with Beautify CNMI!
The contest, according Camacho, is to be part of Environmental Awareness Month in April.
She said previous contests involved only roadsides and beaches, but this will be the first time that entire villages will participate, she added.
Participants will have to describe the cleanup projects in their villages, indicate the number of volunteers and the name of the projects.
The village projects will be judged based on effort, creativity, sanitation and aesthetic improvements, organization and completion.
Camacho said DEQ will be providing bags and gloves to volunteers in participating villages, and will also assist in trash pick-ups.
The two-day judging period is from April 30 to May 1.
DEQ, Camacho said, will also hold poem and essay writing contests, logo contests and lagoon cleanups in April.
For more information, call Tina Sablan at 664-8500.