After transfer station’s closure: Barangays’ garbage trucks step up

CEBU, Philippines —  Instead of taking the collected trash to the now-closed transfer station in Inayawan, barangay garbage trucks will now be the ones to dump them straight to the landfill in Binaliw.

According to Department of Public Services chief John Jigo Dacua, the city government will shoulder the tipping fees for the dumping.

“With respect to the tipping fee, nag-emergency purchase ta og tipping fee so ang city ang mo-shoulder at a lower cost,” said Dacua.

Before the transfer station’s closure, private garbage hauler Docast General Contractor had to haul the trash in Inayawan, dump it in Binaliw, and pay tipping fees.

Under the new temporary arrangement, the city government will increase the fuel allocation for the garbage trucks in 34 barangays in the south district.

As instructed by Mayor Edgardo Labella, city officials led by administrator Floro Casas Jr. met with affected barangay officials to discuss the new scheme with them.

Casas said among the main concerns of the barangays is their fuel allocation, considering that they will already be the ones directly disposing of their garbage in Binaliw for the mean time, which takes longer travel than their usual route to Inayawan.

“Ang necessary effect ani niya is that ang barangay, motaas ang ilahang fuel consumption sa ilahang garbage trucks. So si Mayor already instructed Atty. (June) Maratas nga patas-an ang fuel allocation sa atoang mga garbage trucks sa barangay, depende sad sa consumption nila,” said Casas.

Maratas is the head of the Department of General Services (DGS).

The increase will be applicable to the south district barangays.

Maratas also confirmed being instructed by Labella to augment fuel allocation for barangay garbage trucks.

“The increase (of) fuel allocation will be taken from Cebu City's own supply. Perhaps we can start with an increase of 200 liters per month per garbage truck. Then let's see if it is enough,” said Maratas in a text message.

Altered Schedule

Casas said another concern is that the barangays’ garbage collection schedules will also be altered.

Dacua said they have come up with a clustering scheme wherein five clusters will be made to assist the barangay garbage trucks in case their trucks cannot anymore collect and dispose of more wastes.

Trucks from the city and the city’s private garbage hauler will be put on standby.

“What we did, ato sila gi-clusterize naay mga Barangays nga gipang-cluster nato and with that cluster atong butangan og rescue teams, atong providedan og duha sa tulo ka mga trucks coming from service providers ug sa DPS para og unsa man gani, kanang mga areas kinahanglan i-rescue makapadagan dayon ta,” said Dacua.

“We came up also with the plan nga maghimo og group chat per cluster para paspas ang communication, paspas ang response kung naay mga angay kolektahon. For example, sa mga villages nga dili maagian for that tungod kay nagbiyahe pa ang sa barangay trucks makapadagan dayon ning stand by trucks nga atong i-inplace for that cluster,” he added.

Dacua said the garbage collected in the city is at 700 to 800 tons per day.

The garbage collection schedule is in two shifts: from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

To recall, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) served on Wednesday, July 7, a cease and desist order against the Inayawan transfer station’s operator, RMI Solid Waste Management and Hauling Services, as well as to the hauler of trash in Cebu City, Docast Construction.

EMB also ordered Docast to move to a sanitary landfill all the trash it has brought to the transfer station.

The cease and desist orders were issued after inspection of the transfer station on July 5 showed that trash was left there for more than 24 hours, which violates Section 25 of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

EMB also noticed that the piles of garbage have reached approximately 10.8 meters, which pose danger to the lives of people in the area, particularly the waste pickers. The situation, EMB said, essentially makes the transfer station an open dumpsite.

Cebu City ‘is clean’

Casas said the city will not interfere in the closure since it is the service provider and the owner of the transfer station who has a contract.

“Para namo ba, it's a private matter between katong atoang contractor ug iyahang... ilaha nang responsibility to settle, to correct whatever defect nga nakit-an sa EMB… Kung unsay ilang request namo, we will just give our assistance or cooperation sa EMB,” he said.

Casas added the city government is in control in terms of garbage collection, stressing that Cebu City is generally clean.

“We never lost control sa atoang garbage collection. In fact, kung mosuroy ka sa syudad karon, palihog pakit-a kuno mi kung asa dapita nagkatag gyud ang basura. Generally limpyo kaayo ang atoang syudad,” he said.

No to State of Calamity

Meanwhile, Councilor David Tumulak said he does not agree with the proposal to place Barangay Inayawan under a state of calamity due to the garbage problem.

Tumulak said that the problem is already present and a solution can be found while saying that, if possible, the city's funds should be used properly, especially now that a public health crisis is still ongoing.

“If ever the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office will make a resolution declaring moagi man na diri sa akong komitiba sa Council. I will review it if it is justifiable ug dili gani justifiable I will turn it down,” he said.

He clarified, though, that this does not mean that the city is neglecting the area, especially that many residents are affected there, adding that the City Health Department also visited there to implement certain health programs. — JMD (FREEMAN)