Lapu’s brgy Basak told to vacate garbage dump

THE garbage woes of barangay captain Isabelo Darnayla of Basak, Lapu-Lapu City may be far from over.

Despite solving the garbage collection problem of their community that drew the ire of Mayor Paz Radaza and claiming to have fast-tracked the construction of the barangay materials recovery facility (MRF), Darnayla has now to face the owner of the private lot they used to store their garbage.

The Solid Waste Management Office (SWMO) of Lapu-Lapu City found out that what Darnayla claimed as MRF in sitio Pakpakan is actually a dumpsite.

And residents in the area are already complaining of the foul smell caused by the garbage that were dumped there.

The lot owner likewise complained against the barangay captain for using their lot as an “MRF site.”

Ivan Hortellano who represents the owner Rodulfo Aparri appealed to Darnayla to vacate the lot they are using as an MRF site as they will begin to develop the lot on September 18.

They insisted they never knew it will be used as an MRF site but admitted Darnayla talked with them to use the lot measuring around 300 square meters, Hortellano said.

He admitted that Aparri did agree with Darnayla about the use of their lot without consulting other family members.

The lot owners want the garbage collection facility out before the 18th of this month as development work on the area is to start by then.

Darnayla said they have invited Rodulfo Aparri in one of their sessions and he agreed with them about the use of the lot.

“I suspect, the camp of Mayor Radaza has undermined our agreement by convincing the lot owner to change his mind,” Darnayla said in Cebuano.

He admitted that they were unable to conduct a public hearing as a requirement to establish an MRF as they were in a rush finishing it in order to dispose the garbage that was stockpiled along the streets of the barangay.

“Nganong sa tanang barangay ako ra man gyud ang ilang gigukod nga naay daghang barangay diha nga walay MRF (Why of all the barangays, my barangay has been singled out. There are other barangays there that do not have MRF),” he said.

In reaction to the case filed by businessman Efrain Pelaez against Radaza and 29 barangay captains for alleged failure to implement the Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) last week, the mayor said she suspects the case is politically motivated.

Radaza said Darnayla was not impleaded even if his barangay has 94 citation tickets for mismanaging their solid waste.