Rama names city solid waste management overseer

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has directed Emma Ramas to oversee the city's solid waste management including the Department of Public Services and the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

A copy of the memorandum obtained by The Freeman showed that Mayor Rama signed it before he left for the United States.

Ramas, who had been with the DPS as Public Service Officer IV, is now also expected to implement the long overdue 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan.

Aside from that, Ramas is expected to enforce and implement relevant laws and ordinances in relation to solid waste.

An efficient collection and disposal of waste, promotion of recycling and resource recovery as well as recommend and develop written policies and programs on solid waste management are also expected of Ramas.

Ramas, through one of Rama’s special assistants, Ramil Ayuman, said that as overseer, she would begin with a massive information campaign concerning new schedules of collection as well as segregation.

“We would like DPS to instead implement the two-hour window to which they allow households to bring to the designated areas in the street. Now, only when the trucks in the area come to control what the trucks accept will we start to implement segregation,” said Ramas.

Ramas said they are looking at having a two week to a month of massive campaign concerning proper garbage disposal and segregation and the likes through media and barangays.

Ramas said they will soon push to implement the "no segregation, no collection policy” in the city.

“The enforcement of our law is long overdue,” Ramas noted.

Ramas is also looking at dismantling garbage hotspots. Currently there are 197 all over the city that had been considered as hotspots that have to be lit up, landscaped and enhanced into green spots.

Ramas also disclosed that the city government has already submitted to DENR’s EMB the 10-year plan on solid waste management.

More than her new task, Ramas said the more challenging part is how to break up the habits of people and instill to the locals’ minds that there is “value in waste.” (BANAT NEWS)