Idled facility to be revived

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City through its Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) is looking at reviving the plastic recycling facility in Barangay Inayawan that has been left idle when Mayor Michael Rama lost his reelection bid in 2016.

The facility, SWMB said, can help reduce the volume of garbage the city generates.

SWMB chairperson, Atty. Jade Ponce, said the facility is from the Japanese government and it is similar to that in Guun, Consolacion.

It was launched in 2015 when Rama was mayor but, for unknown reasons, it was abandoned later when leadership at City Hall went to former mayor Tomas Osmeña.

“We had that before. We are looking into reviving that facility,” Ponce said.

“It’s part of the Cebu City-Yokohama project… that’s a Mansei product based in Yokohama… Yokohama and Cebu City have a sister city relationship and thru JICA, JICA ang funding sa Yokohama unya Yokohama-based technology ilang gi-introduce sa atoa,” Ponce said.

Bringing the facility back to life will be incumbent upon the result of the May 9, 2022 elections.

Rama is running against former councilor Margot Osmeña, incumbent councilor David Tumulak, and Cris Saavedra, a private citizen.

“That’s one of the things that we are looking into… Hopefully, after elections, ato na nang masugda’g balik... tan-awn nato,” Ponce said.

Benefit

Ponce said the facility converts plastic fluff into fuel that can be utilized by cement factories.

“Kana siya, gi-design na siya para sa mga plastic nga himuon og fluff fuel… kay nag-operate naman gyud nang mga cement factories. Instead of buying coals, mao na siya,”she said.

The technology reportedly Ponce said, such technology already passed through DENR’s Environment Management Bureau and emission testing.

“With the 2016 debacle, nawa, gipasagdan, I don’t know what happened, wala gyud gi-pursue,” she said.

Aside from producing fuel, the facility also managed to reduce residual wastes in the city during its pilot test.

“Gwapo gyud to siya… reduce ang mga plastic nato… labi na tong mga one-time use, single-use plastics, so naa na siyay kapadulngan while before derecho ra sa landfill, residual… any waste, even recyclable ang material but nobody wants to recycle it, nobody wants to use it again, with it, na-reduce gyud ang waste nato,” Ponce said.

JICA Projects

Ponce disclosed that another project was launched in 2014 also with JICA, through AMCON Incorporated, for the city’s septage management.

The technology assistance is also in support of the Philippines' Clean Water Act of 2004 as the equipment will help treat wastewater before it is disposed into bodies of water.

The two projects were part of JICA's Pilot Survey Project on Disseminating SME Technologies to assist developing countries.

“Yes, two projects… the other one with Amcon, also Yokohama-based gihapon siya … converting mga septic waste nato into fertilizer and help in the treatment of our waste water system which hopefully, ma-revive pud. Gwapo kaayo to sauna… kahibaw ka, naputol man ta, so mao na napasgdan... but the good news is, mu-extend sila sa ilang assistance ang JICA nga ma-extend to siya kay naputol man,” Ponce said.

Plans

The plans are in line with the city’s plan of re-implementing its “No Segregation, No Collection” policy.

While segregation is the way to go, the city also has to be prepared to handle and process its wastes, Ponce said.

“When we talk about segregation, is it the solution? Or just a step to the solution? I am for segregation, but before that, we have to understand if there are existing facilities nga makaya atong garbage,” Ponce said.

The need for segregation is among the major recommendations by different stakeholders during the recently concluded three-day Solid Waste Management Summit last week.

The summit was participated by waste solution providers who presented their different technologies to process waste.

Lead convenor Reymarr Hijara said the report will be submitted to the Office of the Mayor and the SWMB as basis for future actions and projects.  – JMO (FREEMAN)