Fortuna: Study implementation first before amending garbage ordinance

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna yesterday said the City Council can amend the "Ordinance on the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Program" to ensure compliance among communities and households.

But, he said, a study should be done first if its provisions are indeed being implemented properly.

He made the statement in reaction to the request of the mayor's environmental protection consultant Benjamin Cabrido Jr., who said that aside from fines, a 72-hour community services should also be rendered by violators of the ordinance.

"We should be the first in the country to have penalties for environmental (laws) violations," Cabrido said, adding that violators should fulfill the penalty at the Umapad dumpsite.

Littering, refusal to segregate the biodegradable from the non-biodegradable wastes, are among the most common violations under the ordinance.

"The proposal can be considered, though requiring to do something green, like planting trees would have a more permanent impact," Fortuna said.

Meanwhile, the City Council committee on laws and ordinance is reviewing Barangay Paknaan's ordinance that imposes a "service fee" on the use of barangay-owned garbage.

All barangay ordinances must pass through the City Council first before they could be implemented.

Ordinance No. 019-2016 proposed by Barangay Councilman Wilfredo Semblante stated that if residents wish to have their garbage exclusively collected outside the schedule should be made to pay the fee.

Semblante said the barangay already has a specified schedule on garbage collection, which is from Monday to Saturday starting 5 a.m.

As proposed, the service fee per pickup is P1,000 per garbage truck, regardless if the truck is full or not.

The resident, the proposed measure stated, should also make the request at least two days before and that the garbage should already be segregated.

The committee would make a report first about the proposal before it could be presented in the plenary for final deliberation. (FREEMAN)