About waste, water, and toilets

We are very happy to read news about newly-elected Councilor Nida Cabrera's efforts towards implementing a more effective waste management system in various parts of Cebu City. She spearheaded the very successful waste management system in Barangay Luz - it should only be a matter of time before more communities of Cebu City follow Brgy. Luz's successful waste management schemes.

Her plan to start a waste management system at City Hall is also worth commending. We have long been advocating for various waste management models for various types of settings and various types of waste. We are very happy to observe that that is exactly what Councilor Nida is trying to implement slowly but surely. Aside from starting to more effectively manage the City Hall waste, she is also looking at renewing the use of certain compost facilities within the city to take care of organic, biodegradable waste.

We hope that these alternative waste schemes will eliminate the use of expensive and eco-unfriendly landfills in the future and will release the landfill areas for people to use and for more productive purposes rather than for waste disposal.

We hope she will also encourage the schools, churches, and other offices and business establishments to join her alternative waste management campaign that focuses more on the collaboration of the waste generators and on waste reduction, recycling and reuse rather than on mere collection and disposal of waste items. The former is more sustainable, cheaper and more participatory and productive, the latter scheme, which has been garbage-truck- and oil-dependent, is ecologically unfriendly, expensive, and does not encourage people to be aware of their important role in systematically and sustainably managing their own waste.

More power, Nida, and we hope more communities and more Cebu City residents and organizations will cooperate in finally implementing a genuinely effective alternative waste management system that will convert trash into treasure, garbage into gold, and waste generators into waste managers.

Aside from waste management, we hope officials not only of Cebu City but all local and national officials prioritize an effective water supply and distribution system throughout the Philippines.

 Given the urgency and importance of water for our people and our land, we often wonder why unnecessary roads and bridges are prioritized instead of water supply for all our people in this country?

 Rainwater can be tapped to supply water and the technology and costs of harvesting rain water are manageable. Community residents can even be tapped to provide the labor to install the rain water catchments. With ample supply of harvested rainwater, there should be more communities and more people who can benefit from the installation of such inexpensive but eco-friendly rainwater catchments.

Functioning and sanitary toilets are also very urgently needed all throughout our country, especially in Cebu Province. Some eco-friendly toilets, such as waterless toilets or those types that are able to collect and tap human waste into alternative energy sources, can be installed in certain designated model areas first, and then in more areas later on.

The need for a more effective waste management system as well as for a reliable safe water and toilet system is so glaringly clear to our people, even to tourists. Why couldn't traditional politicians see and prioritize projects related to these needs?

With a new national leadership, let us hope local leaders will have clearer eyes to see what the constituents truly need and genuinely work to remove all the dirt, waste, and stink all around.

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