‘Close Inayawan landfill or city will suffer floods’

A DECEMBER 2011  pledge to fully close the Inayawan landfill site hasn’t materialized in Cebu City.

In a meeting with the Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB), Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said unless they resolve the city’s garbage problem the city may experience flooding similar to what happened in Metro Manila.

“It is important that we take care of our garbage.  It is important that we will really be serious about the matter otherwise we will be creating our own demise,” the mayor said.

Councilor Nida Cabrera said  total closure should be imposed in the landfill site.

“No one should be allowed to enter and scavenge there,” said the councilor, who chairs the environment committee.

Engr. Randy Navarro, head of the Inayawan sanitary landfill operations, said last Monday that  60 percent of the city’s daily trash still ends up in Inayawan.

He said only 40 percent of a daily  volume of 300 tons is trucked to the private landfill in Consolacion town.

Cabrera cited the failure of barangay environmental officers (BEO) to segregate wastes.

She said the “No Segregation, No Collection” management scheme has not been strictly enforced.

Under section 7 of city ordinance 2031, the barangay takes charge of  the collection of reusable/recyclable and biodegradable/compostable wastes in their area.

Rama appointed Grace Luardo to oversee the operations of Barangay Environment Officers (BEOs) whose task is to ensure segregation in the the barangay’s garbage collection system.

Engr. Dionisio Gualiza, head of the Department of Public Services, said only P4 million of the P24 million appropriation for garbage tipping fee remains.

It won’t be enough to cover costs until December.

Mayor Rama, whose relations with the city council are strained, said he has to check whether the city legislature would allocate more funds.

“ If the council wants  piles of garbage on city streets then let’s not put money there,” Rama said.

The mayor asked his allies in the council to pass the ordinance regulating the use of plastic shopping bags.

Rama said 10 garbage trucks from Yokohama City will arrive soon to addressa  shortage of garbage trucks. The city also purchased 29 new dump trucks.  With Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao