SRP composting facility to open

CEBU, Philippines - Despite opposition from members of the Cebu City Council, City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered to continue establishing the composting facility at the South Road Properties.

The facility is targeted to be operational by November 23.

Councilors Nida Cabrera and Margarita Osmeña suggested to the city’s executive department to utilize two private companies that offer cheap composting operations instead.

The two companies are EvoEnviro Solutions and Bio Nutrient Waste Management Inc., both companies offer to compost biodegradable wastes but their operations allegedly stopped after the closure of the Inayawan Landfill on January 15.

However, Solid Waste Management Board chairman Janeses Ponce clarified that the city government stopped its transactions with both companies after seeing that their composting areas had become mini-landfill in Barangay Inayawan.

“Gipa-stop na namo kay mura na’g landfill. Nagtipun-og na didto ang basura… Di naman sila capable. Puno  naman kaayo mura na ma’g dumpsite. It appeared like an extension of the landfill already. And the condition then was limpyuhi sa inyo lugar usa ta magpadayon. And to this day, I think wa pa gyud na nila malimpyo,” he said.

Ponce said the city government is an open market that can contract anyone to provide best services to the people at the most affordable price.

He, however, admitted that the city government would no longer establish its own composting area at the SRP if both companies could have functioned well.

“Napahunong na until such time malimpyo nila and they can prove again that they have the capacity to absorb the biodegradable nga ipahatod sa ila. We utilized the two facilities before. But the problem with these two facilities is that they failed later on. Maayo ra pagsugod. But later on natipun-og na ang basura nga dili na sila kaapas,” he said.

He also said representatives from both companies have not shown up to offer their services again to the city government.

Ponce said the SWMB is willing to accept any proposal from both companies given that they could prove their improved capability.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office head Arlie Gesta said the temporary composting area at the SRP will augment the existing 28 facilities in different mountain barangays in the city.

Gesta said the city is now clearing the one-hectare area at the SRP near Pond A before the facility will be operational.

He said the city will construct a concrete composting bed before it will be utilized hopefully by November 23.  — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/BRP (FREEMAN)