Newsbriefs

LANDFILL CLOSURE

EFFECTIVE Dec. 10, dumping of garbage at the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill will be prohibited.

Mayor Michael Rama yesterday signed the cessation order that signals the stoppage of the operation of the landfill.

Disposal of the city’s garbage will be in a private facility in barangay Pulog of Consolacion town.

“Following the order, the Department of Public Services (DPS) and all entities in the City of Cebu are directed to undertake corrective measures in the sanitary landfill preparatory to its eventual closure,” states the cessation order.

In the absence of new wastes, the city government would be able to implement remedial measures and rehabilitate its leachate pond.

Councilor Edu Rama Jr. said the city is leasing 10 units of 10-wheeler trucks to transport its garbage to Pulog, Consolacion, using the Talamban-Pit-os road. 

He said a P17-million appropriation for the lease of the vehicles is included in the 2012 budget.

Under the garbage diversion program, barangay garbage trucks especially those coming from northern barangays would have to unload at a transfer station near the Inayawan Landfill.

The leased vehicle will bring the garbage to the Consolacion facility.  The city government would be paying a tipping fee of P700 per ton for the first 200 tons of garbage and a discounted fee of P350 per ton in excess of 200 tons.

“The Department of Public Services (DPS) is hereby tasked to assist and guide all concerned barangays, entities and the like on how and where to dispose of the solid waste following the implementation of this order,” the order also states.

Rama planned to develop the landfill into a tourist destination after its rehabilitation. /Chief of the reporters Doris C. Bongcac

LP APPOINTMENT

Wanting to maintain the independence of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district declined his appointment as Liberal Party’s vice chairperson for the Visayas.

Osmeña said accepting the position would mean that he will have to take his oath as LP member, something which he did not want to do.

Although allied with LP in the 2010 election, Osmeña said BO-PK has made it a policy even in the previous elections not to be part of a national party.

“BO-PK is not beholden to any national party.  Our loyalty is (only) to the people of Cebu City,” he said.  Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

SENIOR CITIZENS GET AID

Close to 55, 000 Cebu City senior citizens would receive today P3,000 from the city government.

The amount covers the second half of their annual financial assistance of P2,000 and the additional P1,000 was promised by Mayor Michael Rama during his state of the city address in July.

Rama is scheduled to visit the barangays today for the simultaneous distribution of senior citizen assistance.

The city government is giving out P4, 000 as financial assistance to senior citizens.  The first P2, 000 was already released earlier.

Meanwhile, Rama has named Rolando Llaguno of barangay Adlawon as the new of head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs  (OSCA).

Rama chose Llaguno from a list of three nominees for the post.

“But I wanted to meet with him first because we should know where he is going and what programs he has (for OSCA),” said Rama.

Also, he wanted to consult with his trusted people which include his political supporter Rene Mercado and his former consultant Leonardo “Nards” Chiu on what they think of Llaguno’s qualifications.

“I want people to tell me if my judgment of him (Llaguno) is enough,” said Rama. /Chief of the Reporters Doris C. Bongcac