Eco lawyer shuns waste board post

Her name appears as one of the nongovernment organization representatives in the Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board (CCSWMB).

But environment lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said she refuses to sit as a member of the board.

“Ithank Mayor (Michael) Rama for believing in me  but I cannot be in that position  because I file environmental complaints… I want to maintain my independence,” she told Cebu Daily News.

Environment lawyers are planning to sue Metro Cebu mayors  including Rama for non-compliance with the Clean Air Act through non-activation of the Metro Cebu Airshed Board.

“I don’t think he (Rama) will be happy with the suit that we are planning,” said Ramos, who added that she  only knew she was appointed a member through a story published in Cebu Daily News last Thursday.

Mayor Rama said he has yet to talk to his staff about  Ramos’ refusal to be appointed.

“I might announce her replacement in our presscon tomorrow (today),” Rama said.

In a memorandum dated July 12, Rama named Ramos as among the new members of the CCSWMB.

Her name appeared with Evelyn Nacario of the Tamon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.

Other board members are  Treasure Island Packaging director Wilson Tan from the recycling industry.

They replaced Tessie Fernandez of Lihok Filipina and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

Ramos said she did not talk with Rama about joining the board.

“I don’t know if should call Mayor because I did not receive any appointment papers, Ramos said.

“I am willing to help the city but I told Collin (Rosell, of the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor) that I cannot be with the board,” Ramos said.

She and other lawyers are writing to Metro Cebu mayors to remind them to release a yearly air quality  port required by the Clean Air Act.

“We have asked for the document several times we have not been replied to,” she said.

She said continued disregard of their request would compel them to sue the Metro Cebu mayors including  Rama.

“Pollution levels have worsened especially since local government units in Metro Cebu are mostly highly urbanized,” Ramos said.

Ramos, however, said she was happy   Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon assured her  that he would push for inclusion in the 2012 budget appropriation for the purchase of a air quality monitor.

Meanwhile, the reduction of barangay wastes is expected to reduce “by two to three tons” the garbage that the Cebu City government would dispose in a private facility if the Oct.1 “total” closure of the Inayawan sanitary landfill pushes through, said Councilor Nida Cabrera.

Cabrera, chairperson of the City Council’s environment committee, said 25 barangays were already given Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF).

The barangay Apas MRF has been operational since last week, she said.

Barangay Apas councilor Allan Mahait, however, said their MRF can not accommodate all the garbage of the baragay.

“Since the Inayawan landfill is still open, segregated garbage that could not be processed by the MRF goes to the landfill,” Mahait told CDN.