City Councilor says Osmeña's basura project will not work

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera is not convinced with Mayor Tomas Osmeña's “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko” project.

"Dili ko konbinsido kay nisamot atong basura," Garganera, who heads the City Council committee on environment, said.

Records of the city’s Department of Public Services (DPS) showed that 670 tons of garbage are collected daily in the city.

"Unya pila ra ka barangay ang nag-operate, duha. Ang kang (Councilor) Eugenio Gabuya ra ug (Councilor) Mary Ann (de los Santos) ra nga barangay," he said.

He divulged that this project will just increase the city’s monthly expenses.

"Now, we spend like (approximately) P5 million for the sardines and then ni taas na nuon ang basura.  Wala nako kasabot and then katong gikolekta na basura, did we derive income from that? Wala," he added.

Garganera revealed that, a year ago, the past BOPK councilors criticized the administration of Mayor Michael Rama because he was spending P15-16 million a month.

At present, the city reportedly spends close to P26 million for garbage disposal.

“It can go as far as P30 million," he said.

Last year, the Cebu City Council urged Mayor Osmeña to close the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.

Earlier, Osmeña said that expenses would decrease if only the council will allow him to use the landfill.

"It is not me who disallowed him (Osmeña), it is the court. The thing with him (is that), he doesn't believe in this department. He doesn't believe the law.  That is why we require the court. It's the court intervention that put him in this place," Garganero added.

On December 15, 2016, the Court of Appeals ruled for the closure of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.

Basura mo, Sardinas Ko is a project that aims to minimize the trashes in the city, especially at the South Coastal Road.

Every bag of trash can be exchanged for a can of sardines.

The Cebu City Council asked DPS to submit detailed data as to how many tons of garbage collected in Barangays Cogon, Pardo and Lahug.

This came after Team Rama affiliated councilors want a clearer explanation why the garbage collected to these areas reached up to 70 tons per day.

When the project started, DPS collected about 675 tons per day which is higher than the usual collection. — Hannah Tesorio (FREEMAN)