Scavengers seeking aid programs amid dump closure bid

Scavengers who rely on the Inayawan landfill for their living called on the Cebu City government for aid programs that would support them long after the dump had been closed.

Accompanied by Fr. Max Abalos and Aaron Pedrosa of the militant group Sanlakas the affected families went to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s office to press their case.

“With more than 600 persons affected by the Inayawan landfill closure, there has to be some programs that could help them earn a living. Where will this people go?” Abalos told Cebu Daily News.

The Inawayan Landfill was supposed to be closed last Oct. 1, but Cebu City government still has to comply with a requirement by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for a closure plan on the landfill.

Among the requests made by the scavengers is for the city to provide them a three-hectare lot in Inayawan to allow them to continue their segregation even with the disposal of the city’s garbage in Consolacion town.

“We can have the trash segregated at Inayawan before it is sent to Consolacion. At least we can have something for the scavengers to earn from,” Abalos said.

Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera said the landfill may not be closed for several days.

“We decided to postpone the closure to an undetermined time yet, the facility in Consolacion is just not ready yet,” she told Cebu Daily News.

Cabrera said the garbage dry run showed some problems in the delivery route, which need to be ironed out.

She said the road from Pit-os to Cabangahan Consolacion is just too narrow that big trucks could not pass through it. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles