Businessman sends notice to sue versus Radaza, 30 captains

CEBU, Philippines - Few months before the 2013 elections, defeated mayoral candidate and businessman Efrain Pelaez, Jr. has renewed his campaign against the Radazas in Lapulapu City for alleged failure to comply with the provisions of the Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law.

Pelaez and the various business leaders in the city including environmentalist lawyers Gloria Estenzo Ramos and her husband Dante Ramos yesterday sent a notice to sue against Mayor Paz Radaza and 30 barangay captains for their alleged failure to address the worsening garbage problem.

Pelaez, in his notice to sue dated May 18, informed Radaza that since 2007 the business community in Lapu-Lapu City has been calling the attention of the local officials to address the sorry state of sanitations throughout the city.

 It has been five years since then, but Pelaez said nothing has changed in spite of the millions of pesos being allocated for the “Clean and Green” program. On the contrary, the situation has become worst.

 “We wish to bring once more to the fore Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law,” said Pelaez.

“It appears that the city still operates a controlled dumpsite, which is no longer allowed and thus, a gross violation of Republic Act 9003,” Pelaez added.

Radaza immediately dismissed the move as a “cheap political trick of someone who was defeated” in the last elections.

According to Radaza, Pelaez also used the same issue in 2010 but did not help his candidacy.

Radaza denied not having done something to implement the garbage law. In fact, she has shown her political will by filing a criminal case against a political ally for violating the garbage law.

“Our records would show that the city is a favorite destination for Lakbay Aral on Solid Waste Management,” Radaza said.

Pelaez was supported by Felomino Lim, president of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and other businessmen.

Lim said they have joined Pelaez not only because of garbage problem but also because of other issues affecting the business sector in Lapu-Lapu City.

Lim said that the promotion of tourism industry in Cebu will be affected because of the failure of some local government units to address the problem of garbage.

 “ I salute citizens like Efrain Pelaez, Jr., initiating this move in painstakingly capturing the neglect of and making duty-bearers such as barangay and city officials, accountable for their failure to perform the mandates under the Local Government Code and RA 9003,” said lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos in a message read by her husband. (FREEMAN)