Vol. XXII, No. 40 [ BusinessWorld Online ]
Friday, September 19, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
CEBU — A city government in Cebu province is offering projects for a village in exchange for public support for a planned sanitary landfill in the community.
Residents of Barangay Kalunasan in Cebu City, however, are standing firm against the proposed landfill.
Kalunasan village chief Edelito Mabano said in a radio interview that a landfill will discourage investors and pose health hazards.
He cited the landfill in Inayawan village, Pardo district, which emits foul odor even at more than five kilometers away from the site.
A barangay assembly has been set for Oct. 5 to gather about 60,000 residents to discuss the city government’s plan to construct a landfill.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña, who offered several projects to the barangay, said he will not force the issue if the residents overwhelmingly reject the plan.
City Administrator Francisco Fernandez noted the urgency of having an alternative sanitary landfill since the existing 15-hectare dump in Inayawan is full. He added everything is at an exploratory stage.
About 400 to 500 tons of garbage, including waste from government hospitals, are brought daily to the Inayawan landfill.
The Cebu City Medical Center recently became prominent for allegedly disposing pathological tissues without warning the city’s Department of Public Services.
Although the hospital waste was not considered a hazard, the hospital management was still liable, said Environment Regional Director Allan Arranguez.
"The hospital should have its waste treated, if not disposed in their own disposal area," he said. — GRMT
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