Cabrera to finish compost facilities to address city's garbage problem

CEBU, Philippines - Councilor Maria Nida Cabrera is now working to continue unfinished and unimplemented projects that seek to address the city’s garbage problem.

These projects include among others composting facilities funded during the time of former councilor Nestor Archival who headed the committee on environment, but was not finished or due to time constraints, some were not started at all.

There is one compost facility in Barangay Kalunasan that needs to be finished so it can be utilized by two other barangays, Camputhaw and Capitol Site.

However, the city is having a problem in operating the facility because it was constructed on a lot that the city has already donated to the Muslim Community for its cemetery.

Nida said that they are already coordinating with the Muslim community to know when exactly they intend to utilize the lot for its original purpose so the city will have enough time to look for its relocation.

“It’s enough help already if we can use the facility for one year,” Cabrera said.

Another compost facility is due for construction in the North Reclamation Area, she said.

The compost facility at the viaduct of the South Road Properties (SRP) in Mambaling area is being operated by the Cebu City Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (Ceset) for almost two years now.

Cabrera said that it is good that Barangay Mambaling has offered to take over its operation and management as their commitment to help the city government in solving the problem on garbage and also for other purpose like additional income for the barangay.

Cabrera however wants to develop the area first and construct a drainage system before turning it over to the barangay because whenever it rains the water goes to the pit, lessening its life span.

Aside from compost facilities, the city council is also trying to find a possible site for another landfill.

“Puno na kaayo ang Inayawan. We, together with councilor Edu Rama are looking for a possible site in Kalunasan and Binaliw. While there is no site for another landfill yet, we are preparing the barangays to have their own Material Recovery Facility (MRF) which is mandated under RA 9003 (Solid Waste Management Act),” Cabrera said.

She said that only Barangay Luz was able to comply with the requirement out of the 80 barangays of the city.

A notice to sue is being prepared to be sent to each barangays that are not compliant with the law. The establishment of MRFs is mandated since 2006.

With MRFs in place, the second landfill will only accept residual wastes. This will reduce by 50 percent the volume of garbage that the city collects daily at present.

The city produces about 400 to 500 tons of garbage daily.   (FREEMAN NEWS)