Cabrera to oppose Agsungot landfill

CEBU, Philippines - Having gotten the nod of the residents on the proposed landfill in the mountain barangay of Agsungot does not mean the developer is off the tough job.

City Councilor Nida Cabrera has vowed to oppose the landfill before the Solid Waste Management Board and the City Council due to environmental and public safety reasons.

Cabrera said the location of the proposed landfill is not feasible because it is very close to at least two waterways - a creek and the Butuanon River. Agsungot is within the Butuanon Watershed.

Cabrera is unconvinced that the facility can avoid contaminating the nearby water source because the proposed landfill is allegedly about or less than 200 meters away from the water source.

A school also operates near the area.

The proposed location of the landfill is also reportedly susceptible to landslide.

“I don’t think makapasar ni sya sa atong Solid Waste Management Board. Personally, supak gyud ko kay dako gyung kadaot ang mahatag ana sa environment ug mga residente,” Cabrera said.

She said that even if the project pushes through, she will not recommend the facility to the City Council and the Mayor.

It was observed that the roads leading to the site are not wide enough to accommodate the number of vehicles expected to pass to and forth the area.

Cebu Eco Ventures secured an ECC from the Environmental Management Bureau-7 last June 15. Under the ECC, the developer is compelled to plant not less than 9,000 trees in the area.

CEV is on the process of securing a locational clearance, which requires them to get a barangay clearance.

A second public hearing was conducted last Sunday initiated by the developer. After hours of explaining, the developer was able to make the residents sign the endorsement, which the company hopes would merit the issuance of the barangay clearance.

Agsungot Captain Pastor Alcover did not, however, promise that the barangay will issue the clearance soon until the developer is able to answer the questions of the barangay.

Cebu Eco Ventures plans to put a three-hectare private landfill using the same technology and facility as that in Subic. The landfill will consist of three garbage cells with two leachate collection tanks and a leachate treatment plane ton-site.  (FREEMAN)