Kalunasan under state of calamity

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has placed Barangay Kalunasan under a state of calamity due to the recurring problem of foul smell and defective sewage treatment facility of the two jails in the barangay.

During the regular session last Tuesday, Councilor Nestor Archival delivered a privilege speech, which called for action on the situation.

“This disaster has disrupted the lives of the people in these communities. This has also added unnecessary discomfort and hazard to inmates in these jail facilities on top of being deprived of their freedom. Given this, it is my firm belief that this situation has already escalated into a calamity or disaster from being a mere nuisance,” Archival said.

The council approved the resolutions Archival filed, including placing the barangay Kalunasan under a state of calamity.

Placing the barangay under a state of calamity means it can use some P19.5 million from disaster funds to implement measures that would address the concerns, which have reportedly persisted for five years.

Archival said the P19.5 million will be used, among others, to purchase two trucks with vacuum pump. Each truck costs P8.44 million.

However, because buying the trucks will reportedly take time, the city will also use P480,000 to dislodge the septic tanks at least two times a week for four months.

The city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works will also need P1.97 million to cover the canals outside the Cebu City Jail and the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center Cebu to prevent the overflowing of water.

The City Council also formed a task force that would recommend short term and long term solutions to address the problem.

Archival will sit as chairman and Councilor Joel Garganera as the vice chairman. The members are Councilors Eduardo Rama, Jr., Renato Osmeña, Jr., Alvin Dizon, Raymond Alvin Garcia, and Jerry Guardo.

The task force will endorse its recommendations and other solutions to the problem within 120 days.

Archival said the City Jail has 5,800 residents – 4, 439 males, 898 females, 63 from the Operations Second Chance, and 400 adopted inmates from the Naga City Jail.

Meanwhile, CPDRC houses 2,448 inmates.

Archival said residents of Kalunasan have complained that they have been suffering from the stench since 2015 but this has not been reportedly acted upon.

“The lack of proper waste disposal in the jail facilities has already infested our rivers, a source of our water. It has also post hazard to the health of thousands of residents and persons deprived of liberty of the City of Cebu as well as the province, and has greatly affected the tourism industry in the area,” Archival said.

As a short term solution, Rama suggested the hiring of a private firm that would dislodge the septic tank to ensure that it would not overflow and affect the residents and the environment.

Earlier, the City Council received a letter from Atty. Eugene Orbita of E.C. Orbita Law and Forensic Handwriting Consultancy who represents thousands of residents who are reportedly affected by the stench.

Orbita said residents near the Langub Shrine in Barangay Kalunasan and massgoers are affected by the inaction of government.

On August 7, 2019, the council held an executive session and decided to request the city’s Department of Public Services to dislodge the septic tanks at the city jail twice a week; to collect garbage every day; and to provide a hose that can connect the female dormitory’s septic tanks to the hauling truck. (FREEMAN)