Cebu City 30% ready for closure

The Cebu City government has barely two weeks to prepare for the total closure of the Inayawan Sanitary landfill but Mayor Michael Rama admitted they aren’t halfway ready.

The city  has implemented only   30 percent of the remedial steps identified by the Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board.

The plan  to truck garbage through  Mandaue City roads to an alternative dumpsite in Consolacion town remains uncertain, according to Councilor Nida Cabrera.
Instead, the mayor will issue a cessation order to stop the dumping of garbage at the Inaywan landfill effective Nov. 7

Cabrera, Department of Public Services (DPS) head Dionisio Gualiza and landfill manager Randy Navarro met with Mayor Jonas Cortes last Monday to discuss the city’s plan to use Mandaue roads in the  delivery route to Consolacion town.

Cortes  said he still needs to  consult the  Mandaue City Council and  Mandaue City’s traffic management group. Cortes said Mandaue is enforcing its truck ban and plans to make this permanent.

“But Mayor Cortes  clarified (during our meeting) that the truck ban is not in retaliation for the ban Cebu City is now implementing on the entry of Mandaue City PUIs.  They just have their own traffic management problem,” said Cabrera.

Rama wanted to finally close the Inayawan landfill on  Nov. 7.  But no  closure order has been sent yet by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Cebu City  needs to start with its landfill remedial plans, a requirement for the issuance of a total closure order by DENR.

Cabrera said an alternative dumpsite,  which includes the private Consolacion facility, has to be identified along with a a garbage transfer station. Big trucks have to leased.

Hundreds of scavengers will lose a source of livelihood in Inayawan.

“It is mandated by law that we take care of the needs of the scavengers,” said Cabrera.