Newsbriefs

Landfill offer

A PRIVATE firm offered to build a landfill facility in barangay Agsungot, Cebu City, to replace the Inayawan landfill, which is scheduled for closure on Oct. 1.

Cebu Eco-Ventures through their consultant A.V. Mendoza submitted their proposal to Mayor Michael Rama who then referred it to City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete for study.

Poblete said the Cebu-based firm already secured an environmental compliance certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Councilor Nida Cabrera first raised the need to tap a private firm to service the city’s garbage.

Two private firms in Naga City and Consolacion town offered to receive the garbage at P700 per ton.

Cabrera, who chairs the council’s environment committee, said material recovery facilities (MRF) were set up in 25 out of the city’s 80 barangays.

Barangay Apas has its MRF in a portion of the Asia Town IT park. Rama said barangay Mabolo also requested for an MRF in their barangay.

The mayor said he will meet with Councilors Cabrera and Edu Rama to identify programs aimed at easing the city’s transition after the closure of the Inayawan landfill site. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles

Committee review

COMMITTEES and boards under the mayor’s office will undergo a second review to assess the appointed members, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said.

Rama called for a second review of the commissions after ecology lawyer Gloria Ramos complained about her inclusion as a NGO representative into the city’s Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB).

He said there appeared to have been “miscommunication” concerning Ramos’ inclusion into the board.

“There was some kind of miscommunication but it’s not going to be a big deal,” Rama said.

The mayor said he already ordered City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete to look into the new composition of 62 committees and boards under the mayor’s office.

Lawyer Ramos told Cebu Daily News in an earlier interview that she only knew of her inclusion into the SWMB through a CDN report.

She said she cannot join the board because it will restrict her from filing environmental suits against the city government.

Ramos said ecology lawyers will study their plan of suing Metro Cebu local government units including Cebu City for failure to reactivate the Metro Cebu Airshed Board.

She also said she will still help the city in addressing its environmental problems.

Belinda Navasquez, the mayor’s secretary and point person of the special review committee, said they are studying the composition of the 62 special bodies under the mayor’s office.

The letter addressed to Ramos could still be in “transit,” Navasquez said. “If you want to serve, you can serve. If they are not ready (to serve the city), then they can always be replaced,” Rama said. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Fuel, light conservation

CEBU City Hall issued a memo outlining eight ways for employees to save on fuel consumption.

Mayor Michael Rama told employees to regularly change oil, check the tires and clean the vehicle to prolong its use.

Avoiding speeding and observing proper road courtesy will also extend the vehicle’s life span, he said.

The Government Services Office (GSO) showed that Cebu City Hall consumes 5,000 to 6,000 liters of diesel and 1,200 to 2,000 liters of gasoline each day.
This includes fuel for police vehicles and garbage trucks.

Police vehicles receive 300 liters a month with the Mobile Patrol Group getting 600 liters a month.

Garbage trucks were allocated 1,200 to 2,300 liters per month.

Rama also advised employees to switch off unused lights and computers, clean lamps and other fixtures and buy appliances with energy-saving features.
Air-conditioning units and other electronic devices should also be unplugged when not in use, he said.

The mayor said only the legislative building’s elevators should be used when there are no functions on its fourth floor. The four-story legislative building is equipped with two elevators. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac