CH stops Quiot garbage facility

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government issued a Cease and Desist Order against the Material Recovery Facility of barangay Quiot following the opposition from a number of residents.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama issued the CDO last August 22 temporarily suspending all operations and activities relating to the proposed MRF at sitio Grotto, barangay Quiot.

The issuance of a CDO was recommended by the Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board after some residents, led by Dr. Ramon del Fierro Jr. complained to them about the health hazards of the MRF that will be situated within close distance from residential areas, a nursery school and a shrine.

The MRF will be constructed on a hilly area in Quiot and in the middle of a community.

Residents believe that they will be pestered by the bad odor and possibly contaminate their water once the MRF is operational.

The residents said they were consulted regarding the construction of the MRF and there was no adequate notice to the residents that will be affected.

The SWMB, in its resolution, said the CDO shall give enough time for both parties, the residents and the barangay, to resolve the issues that each has on the construction of the MRF.

“This board, in the interest of resolving their conflicting interest, gave the parties sufficient time to resolve their differences among themselves in a peaceful and amicable manner in order to avoid the long and tedious procedure involved in court litigation,” SWMB said.

SWMB Presiding Officer and lawyer Janeses Ponce said that the CDO should not be taken as a move against the MRF per se, but a temporary remedy so both parties may be able to address their issues.

The city government encourages all barangays to put up its own MRF to reduce the volume of garbage brought to the Inayawan Landfill.

The SWMB believes that the MRF should be situated in an area where no residents will be at a disadvantage.     - THE FREEMAN