Long-term solutions cited

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) and the Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board are coming up with long-term and parallel solutions while barangays are expected revitalize their solid waste management programs.

This was revealed by CCENRO’s Solid Waste Management Focal Person Jean Carlo Generale, in an interview aired via the City Government’s Sugboanon Channel.

“Ang problema nagsugod sa atoa tungod kay wala pa ta ka-implement og perfect segregation at source,” Generale said.

If this stays this way, Generale said, the residents’ complaint on foul odor due to the Binaliw landfill would likely continue.

Minimizing waste at the household level should be a shared responsibility between the city and its constituents, Generale said.

CCENRO had already provided initial recommendations to PIWS in Banaliw in line with the complaints of some residents while also recommending for the City’s strict implementation of the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy.

Generale added that the City will also connect with private firms that will buy plastic waste from households.

Due to a lax implementation of the No Segregation, No Collection policy, households continue to throw their waste without segregating them.

Generale said such policy could not work fully if the public has an outlet to sell their collected non-biodegradables.

“Ang dilemma man gud kay karon wala tay facility nga mo-cater sa tanang na-segregate nga basura,” he added.

Barangays as well here have not yet put up Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to collect the segregated waste even though they are mandated by law to do so.

In a special report made by The Freeman a few years back, barangays in this city have not put up MRFs due to unavailability of land, though a clustered MRFs had been proposed.

Generale also admitted that the City also has a limited capacity to implement the policy due to the lack of capable personnel who can train the barangays.

It is important for the barangays that their constituents and the rest put more effort into it.

Each household can minimize the amount of waste it produces through composting organic waste and recycling those that can still be reusable.

The barangay can also do its part through the revival of its Ecological Solid Waste Management Committee and come up with programs that can help minimize waste at the household level, he added.

The city, through CCENRO and the Solid Waste Management Board, is also coming up with “parallel solutions” to help the barangays revitalize their solid waste management programs accordingly. — (FREEMAN)