Residents ordered to stay at home: ECQ vs trash in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — For two days – today, December 30, and Sunday, January 2 – residents in Cebu City are ordered to stay in their homes as the city imposes what has been described as “ECQ-like restrictions” to pave way for massive cleanup and clearing of debris left behind by Typhoon Odette.

An estimated 1,200 tons of garbage needs to be collected in the city everyday – that’s double the requirement during ordinary days.

Yet two weeks after the typhoon, Cebu City remains scrambling to clear its roads, a problem a city official has tagged to several factors such as the temporary closure of private landfill, lack of trash transfer station, and lack of heavy equipment operators, among others.

To fast-track the clearing, Mayor Michael Rama has issued Executive Order No. 152, dubbed as “Oplan Barug Sugbo,”

declaring the observance of an enhanced citywide qualitative health and sanitation (ECQ-HS) drive today, December 30, and on Sunday, January 2, within the city.

During these days, all persons in the city shall stay at home and movement outside their homes shall be allowed only for purposes of clean-up, accessing basic necessities, and services for work.

However, the stay-at-home order shall not apply to medical practitioners, officers, hospital staff, nurses and health volunteers for the purpose of medical assistance and/or service; emergency personnel; all authorized national and local government officials and employee including those who will be involved in the actual clean up; drivers and personnel or delivery vehicles carrying all types of cargoes, among others.

The EO directs the active participation of all private and government institutions and other stakeholders.

“The ECQ-HS Drive and Days shall be observed and conducted for the primary purpose of promoting health and sanitation all over the City of Cebu including the clearing of all obstructions and debris; collection and proper disposal of garbage; environmental protection, household clean up and initial restoration and repair; promotion of safety; eliminate risks and hazards; prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection and sanitation; facilitate livelihood and business activities, among others,” it further reads.

In carrying out the ECQ-HS activities, a bottoms-up and household-based approach is adopted. Each capable member a household and family, preferred lead by parents or responsible adults, shall exert utmost effort to carry out the clearing and clean-up operation within the premises of their respective dwelling units on the designated days.

All barangay officials and employees shall exert all efforts and utilize all its resources to support the clean-up and clearing activities, including the collection of garbage as well as enforce all health and sanitation protocols within their barangays, among others.

According to the EO, any violation thereof shall be subject to penalties pursuant to existing national laws and local ordinances.

Garbage mess

Yesterday, City Councilor Eduardo Rama, who has been tasked to oversee the garbage problem, said that the city is now trying to rev up its garbage collection efforts.

Explaining the delay in clearing and collection, he said the temporary closure of ARN landfill in Barangay Binaliw, the lack of transfer stations where the city could temporary store collected trash, and the scarcity of heavy equipment operators all compounded to the problem.

Edu said that the landfill was closed for two days after the typhoon. When it finally reopened on the third day, some utility posts along roads leading to the landfill collapsed, making access to the facility difficult.

When the road was finally cleared, ARN facility’s generator then bogged down, causing further delay.

“On the 16th and 17th, dili palabayan ang landfill… On the 18th, naay mga poste nga nakababag padung sa landfill. That’s three days already. After three days, naguba ilang generator, so dili kalabay sa landfill,” Edu said.

He said disposal at the landfill was also put on hold on some days due to the slippery road after occasional rains.

The city’s clearing and collection efforts could have at least moved had there been a transfer station where collected trash could be stored. Unfortunately, there was none.

Edu said they are already in talks with the operator of the transfer station in Barangay Inayawan to accommodate the city’s trash.

During ordinary days, an estimated 600 tons of rubbish is collected in Cebu City, but the amount has doubled since the typhoon.

With all the backlogs, it has been observed that mounds of garbage have sprouted in many barangays of the city.

Edu likewise cited other factors contributing to the delay in clearing and collection, such as private operators having a hard time getting fuel for their trucks and other equipment.

He also said private operators and even barangays had problems with availability of drivers for their heavy equipment.

Is there politics?

Reports have also surfaced that some barangay officials are allegedly taking advantage of the situation to make the present administration “look bad.”

Edu did not comment on the matter. Instead, he appealed to all barangay officials to be proactive in helping solve the garbage problem.

Under existing arrangements, the barangays take charge with collecting garbage in the interior parts, and the city government, along major thoroughfares.

“It’s a number of factors that are causing the problem. But we are optimistic that we can solve this problem… We help each other,” Edu urged, adding that the government cannot do it alone.

In the meantime, the city government has offered to help the barangays by renting out heavy equipment, including trucks and payloader to speed up the clearing.

Edu said they already met with barangays captains and told them to avail of the rented equipment, but they also appealed to them to maximize its use so they can save on the rental fees.

“Karon because of this circumstance, we are renting trucks and we are willing to lend it to the barangays, regardless of political color,  unya sila, they will also  utilize their barangay workers  sa paghakot,” he said. — Mary Ruth R. Malinao /JMD (FREEMAN)