Rama backs Paglaum Basureros

CEBU, Philippines - While the Cebu City Council questioned the legitimacy of Paglaum Basureros 20/20 Inc. in conducting seminars, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is supporting it.

“I don’t know how you will go about it but the most important thing is I love whatever the best set up is and I’ll go for it.  The mayor will always be supportive of any seminar or training. Training that will enhance and make Cebu pretty,” he said.

This was despite the recent controversy faced by Paglaum Basureros, which is not accredited by the City government.

The City Council has questioned why the organization is collecting P750 per participant of a seminar it offers, earning more than P2 million pesos already.

The NGO, which briefs businesses on proper compliance with the City’s solid waste ordinance, is not accredited with the City Government.

In its session last Wednesday, the City Council requested Paglaum Basureros 20/20 Inc. to attend an executive session on October 23 and explain why it is collecting from business establishments.

It also asked the NGO to furnish members a list of establishments that paid the P750 registration fee.

The executive department, however, see nothing wrong with what Paglaum Basureros is doing.

Both Rama and his consultantAtty. Jade Ponce, who also heads the City’s Solid Waste Management Council (SWMC), defended Basureros.

Rama, though, said he will not go against the Council if it would prevent Basureros from continuing with its seminars.

“Wa gyod ko’y problema kun undangon ang (I have no problem if they stop the) seminar because I just wanted to make the solid waste management board operational and the need to disseminate information on (CO 2243) nga really necessary,” Rama said.

In a separate interview Ponce said Francis Paragas, who heads Basureros, would issue a statement today in response to the issue.

Paglaum Basureros has already conducted four seminars this year to guide business establishments in complying with the provisions of City Ordinance (CO) 2243, particularly the mandatory submission of Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP) when securing or renewing a business or mayor’s permit.

This was after the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) finally implemented the ordinance last August on the ESAP requirement, which was deferred three years ago.

There are 28,000 business establishments within the city that are mandated to submit their respective ESAP upon the renewal of their business permits January next year.

 What Paglaum Basureros was doing reached the City Council’s ears because of complaints City Councilor Nida Cabrera’s office received regarding the seminars.

She said registration fee is P750, and micro-entrepreneurs who cannot afford to pay it were anxious that renewal of their business licenses would be affected by their failure to attend the seminar.

“One…reported to our office that its participant number for the seminar is 2,758. Meaning, if each of the 2,758 already paid P750, that’s a whooping total of P2.1 million pesos going to the organizer of the seminar,” Cabrera had said.

“They (businesses) made a call and many of them are asking why they still need to pay P750 in favor of Paglaum Basureros,” she added.

Meanwhile, during the City’s Executive-Legislative Agenda orientation yesterday, Rama shared his thoughts with the City Council on the importance of having no landfill in the city, saying he would rather have “shared bounties” with other cities and towns.

“If Naga City and Inayawan (in Cebu City) want to earn from our garbage, so we let them process our garbage, we will continue with ‘recycle-reuse’,” he said.

Rama plans to confer with the SWMC to discuss the achievements and functions of each of its members. (FREEMAN)