More improvements in ‘buwaran’ soon

CEBU, Philippines — More improvements are expected along coastal areas including at sitio Bohol in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City following the clean-up at the dried fish production area commonly known as buwaran.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama made the assurance after the city’s Coastal Management Board (CMB) disclosed that in less than two months, they were able to take out around 40,000 tons of garbage in what the city’s Public Information Office described as a “mini smokey mountain or mini landfill” but some residents throwing garbage anew.

In Rama’s teleradyo program over the city’s Sugboanon channel, the mayor was asked how to really solve the problem if this scenario remains despite the city’s efforts.

Rama said he is aware of what is going on, afterall, he is the one who formed the CMB.

“Naa koy gitaud diha, seawall…Tiwason na nimo all the way adtos Mambaling, sea wall, pagkahuman with the south coastal urban development butangan og 11 ka bridges, lapad nga mga dan, wala na na (garbage),” Rama said yesterday.

Rama said, in a few months time to a year, the coastal areas including that in sitio Bohol will already be “a thing in the past”.

“Trust your mayor. Inig abli man gud sa dan, accessibility will be provided. Apil pang mga illegalities diha, agi ra nas dagat (will be solved),” Rama added.

Along with this, the mayor said the city really needs to upgrade and introduce ways to reduce garbage.

Earlier, CMB’s executive director Lemuel Felisario also felt that heavier penalties should be imposed while also rewarding those who continue to maintain the cleanliness of the area.

“It’s a combination of discipline with a Singapore-like mentality, not tolerant though. It means we must also impose strict penalties. Either they comply or get penalized, rewarded or be alienated,” Felisario said.

Aside from fines, Felisario is looking at posting dirty undisciplined backyards through the Facebook page of the PIO, the CMB teleradyo program on the city’s Sugboanon channel, and mainstream media.

“Yes, it’s public defamation. But the means justify the end. Enough with Mr. Nice guy,” he said, adding CMB will send the links to the barangays concerned.

On the other hand, CMB has also proposed the introduction of a rice or cash for trash program and hopes to partner with Aling Tindera that recently forged an engagement with the city.

Felisario said he also asked the Cebu City Volunteerism Movement (CCVoM) to buy selected plastic for P10 per kilo.

CCVOM accordingly is also supportive of Rama in its revival of the Cebu City Eco Park, the former Cebu City Zoo, in sourcing out 2,000 kilograms of cement used in its rehabilitation project at no cost to the city.

In his proposal, Felisario bared CMB will need a seed capital of P50 million for at least three months. It will be used to buy rice that the city will offer one kilo in exchange of five kilos of plastic.

The selected plastics collected will then be brought to the material recovery facility (MRF) in Naga City in exchange for bags of cement.

“We will use the cement for the continuing development of our eco-park and supply our barangay self-help projects,” Felisario said.

“Benefits are four-pronged. We lessen garbage brought to Consolacion, we get to provide food for our constituents, we can do segregation at source, and we provide raw materials for barangay projects,” added Felisario. — /GMR (FREEMAN)