Cebu City could face raps for deficiencies at landfill

CEBU, Philippines – An international network of environment lawyers yesterday warned that Cebu City will be among the local government units to face charges if it continues to ignore implementing the Solid Waste Management Act.

Atty. Antonio Oposa, head of the Global Legal Action Against Climate Change in the Philippines, said they will file the formal charges against the LGU's two months from now, in time for the World Environment Day in June.

Gloria Ramos, the head of the network in Cebu, told dyLA that Cebu City will be named respondent in the complaint if operations of the Inayawan sanitary landfill will not live up to standards set by Republic Act 9003.

Aside from the LGU's, Ramos said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources would also face charges if it cannot properly implement the law. Ramos has questioned the alleged inability of DENR to enforce a cease and desist order against the Inayawan landfill.

She said the cease and desist order was already issued before but for unclear reasons, DENR allegedly fails to implement it until now.

Ramos contended that had the cease and desist order immediately implemented, the fire that struck the landfill, which affected at least 180 residents near the area could have been prevented. Residents living near the dumpsite have fallen ill because of the thick smoke coming from burning garbage.

The fire, which started last April 6, was triggered by the methane gas emitted by the garbage, as well as the extreme heat of the sun.

Ramos said the city government is “definitely liable” of the suffering of residents in the area.

Meanwhile, the residents of sitios Sto. Niño, Ocampo Drive and San Vicente that have complained of persistent cough and difficulty in breathing, were made to undergo a physical check-up at the barangay health center and were provided with medicines.

From the health center, they were led to the Inayawan Sports Complex where they were given free packed meals for lunch and dinner.

Inayawan barangay captain Rustico Ignacio said there might be no need for the affected residents to be relocated permanently, considering that the smoke at the landfill has continuously been kept under control.

But city health officer Fe Cabugao argued this does not assure that safety of the residents in the area and the residents should still be relocated for “serious health reasons.”

“The residents, especially the children, the asthmatic and the elderly, should be brought away from the smoke to avoid continuous inhalation. They may get used to the awful smell of the garbage but the smoke could suffocate them and give them respiratory tract infections. That place is a health hazard,” Cabugao said.

In a related development, private hospitals in Cebu City that are members of the Cebu Health and Wellness Council assured that they are properly disposing the trash.

Engr. Oscar Tuazon of Cebu Doctor’s University clarified reports that CDH is not implementing proper waste disposal. He said the hospital has since observed proper segregation of garbage, including other hospitals in the city like Chong Hua and Perpetual Succour hospital.

The hospitals further assured that they no longer use devices that contain mercury. Mercury has been found to cause damage to the nervous system.

Health Care Without Harm, an international coalition of health organizations, yesterday said at least 1,000 hospitals across the Philippines have been ordered to switch from mercury devices to non-mercury devices. – Fred P. Languido, AJ A. de la Torre, and Karen Grace Yasi/JMO (THE FREEMAN)