Newsbriefs

DEBRIS STRANDS CARGO SHIP

A CARGO ship got stranded in barangay South Poblacion, San Fernando town, southern Cebu after its anchor got snagged by the floating debris of a World War II airplane.

MV Violeta, a huge cargo ship that transports cement was supposed to leave the South Poblacion port yesterday morning.

“Di na matangtang ang ankla (The anchor can no longer be removed),” said Monching Auxterio, a reporter of GMA News Balitang Bisdak told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview.

Auxterio said they went to San Fernando town yesterday afternoon but were unable to take video footage because they were barred entry by the ship crew.
He said the crew used sonar to detect and locate the object that submerged in the waters.

When Cebu Daily News called the San Fernando police precinct and the Philippine Coast Guard, they said that they didn’t receive a report about the stranded ship at that time.

In a separate phone interview, Cebu Coast Guard Commander Rolando Punzalan said that he will order an investigation of the incident. Correspondent Rhea Ruth V. Rosell

HAZARDOUS WASTES  PROGRAMS

CEBU City Hall will purchase trucks that will solely transport hazardous wastes this year as part of its waste segregation program.

Councilor Nida Cabrera said a company based in the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) will help the city manage its hazardous wastes.

She said the company processes hazardous wastes for distribution in Japan and South Korea.

The councilor, who chairs the environment committee, disclosed this amid appeals by a research group for city officials to enforce programs aimed at minimizing waste at the barangay level.

Kaira Alburo, executive director of the A2D project, said garbage segregation should also include separating hazardous wastes from the non-biodegradable and biodegradable wastes.

The A2D project is a research group focusing on alternative development.

Alburo said city officials should intensify its awareness campaign on the dangers brought by hazardous wastes especially mercury.

The group also pushed for the creation of a city management board for hazardous wastes.

“Household hazardous wastes is not addressed by the city’s segregation program,” Alburo said.

Alburo’s group was tapped by Cabrera to stage a presentation on the state of the city’s hazardous wastes before the City Council yesterday.

She said City Hall should campaign for disclosure of chemical content in products.

Alburo said a survey done by barangay environmental officers showed a majority of households were unaware about the hazardous chemicals of household items like insecticides, muriatic acid, bleach and even air fresheners. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac