In Cebu City: 50 percent of households don’t segregate garbage

CEBU, Philippines - At least 50 percent of the households in Cebu City have complied with the "No Segregation, No Collection" policy on its first day of strict implementation, says former councilor Nida Cabrera, who was tasked to oversee the reopening of the Inayawan dumpsite.

Cabrera said they are giving those who did not comply with the policy within the week to observe or they will be apprehended for violation of the city ordinance. After a week, Cabrera said they will start issuing citation tickets to violators.

Cabrera said they have already started disseminating the information two weeks ago about the strict implementation of the waste segregation policy.

Biodegradable wastes will be collected on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays while non-biodegradable wastes and residual wastes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

There is no schedule yet for special wastes because they shall be handled separately by Transporter and Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) facility registered with the Environmental Management Bureau-7.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier issued a memorandum to all barangays, department heads and offices to strictly implement wastes segregation effective September 28.

Those who will be caught violating the policy will be charged for violation of the Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and City Ordinance No. 2031 or Solid Waste Segregation At Source.

Unsegregated wastes will not be collected and those caught in the act of disposing mixed wastes shall be apprehended.

The barangays were also directed to start composting to process biodegradable wastes. Cabrera said they will be having a meeting with all the barangays to discuss the matter and the conduct of inventory of households.

"(Mag) meeting mi ana kay naa man gyoy uban nga di mo-follow biyaan sa dan, naa mi system sa mga BEO (barangay environment officer) namo nga nag-conduct og inventory kinsang household sakop anang sit-yoha aron mahibaw-an namo kinsa ang wa maglabay anang adlawa," she said.

All departments and offices in the City Hall are also expected to comply with the policy.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) will conduct a multi-stakeholder consultation together with the EMB-7 on October 5 to discuss the long term plan for the landfill.

"We will conduct multi stakeholder consultation this coming October 5 para sa development sa among 10-year plan and EMB will also attend, including line agencies, we will let them report what they have been doing to support Cebu City," Cabrera said.

It was earlier announced that despite environmental and sanitary violations of the landfill, the city government still wants to use it.

The mayor did not want to transact again with the private landfill in Consolacion town. (FREEMAN)