Mandatory MRF for industries: Quisumbing returns ordinance unsigned

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing did not approve the ordinance passed by the City Council establishing mandatory material recovery facilities (MRF) for industries.

Quisumbing returned to the City Council without his signature the copy of the ordinance requiring establishments in Mandaue City producing at least 100 kilos of garbage a day to have their own MRF.

The mayor urged the city's legislators to give special attention to the opinion of city legal officer Omar Redulla on Section 5 of the ordinance.

"Respectfully returning without signature to the Honorable August Body the Ordinance No. 14-2016-1109 An Ordinance Establishing Mandatory Recovery Facility for Industries in Mandaue City," read the letter of Quisumbing dated September 6, 2016.

Under Section 5, the establishment of an MRF shall institutionalize mandatory composting and that industries shall be required to compost their own compostable and biodegradable waste. The ordinance, in Section 5, pointed out that the composting method shall known as Takakura.

The Takakura method uses native organisms for composting – cultured and fermented from locally available materials such as fresh fruits, vegetable peels, coconut wine, brown sugar, rice bran and rice husks.

But Redulla, in his legal opinion, pointed out that it has to be considered in the resolution if establishment will opt not to adopt the Takakura method.

"One may opt to use another method of composting in lieu of Takakura provided that such method is duly approved by the Mandaue City Solid Waste Management Board," Redulla said.

Redulla said that industries and premises that don't have specific areas for composting may form and organize themselves to have a common composting facility.

Redulla suggested to the mayor that the method of approval must be included by the Mandaue City Solid Waste Management Board in the ordinance "to fully apprise the affected constituents of the procedures and to avoid any vague interpretations."

Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, the council presiding officer, said the local chief executive has 15 days to sign or veto the law, otherwise the approved ordinance would lapse into law, meaning with or without the mayor's signature, the law can be implemented.

Since there's an opinion from the city legal office, Fortuna said they will refer the matter to the council committee on laws and ordinance.

The vice mayor said they will consider the opinion of the city legal to incorporate the ordinance. (FREEMAN)