Aerial photo of new dumpsite ordered

CEBU - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday instructed City Hall consultant Rene Sanapo to take an aerial photograph of a portion in barangay Kalunasan he wants to convert as the new sanitary landfill of Cebu City.

Kalunasan barangay captain Edelito Mabano also met with the mayor at the latter’s office yesterday discussing the issue. The barangay captain said he will “not object to the wisdom of Osmeña” if the barangay council will also support such.

“Kun ako lang g’yod hinoon ang pangutan-on, supak g’yod ko nga ari sa among barangay tukoron ang bag-ong sanitary landfill nga labayanan og basura, pero kun ang akong konseho ug ang katawhan mosugot, wala ko’y mahimo,” Mabano said.

Osmeña also said that the city should now start scouting for another sanitary landfill site because the existing one in barangay Inayawan is already full, although it still could be used.

During the press conference at his office yesterday, Osmeña explained that he chose barangay Kalunasan to be the site for the new dumpsite because the area is not yet populated and that it is not a part of the watershed.

He said the place is about four to five kilometers from the present location of the new Cebu City Jail in barangay Kalunasan and it could be reached by vehicles through roads that will be constructed passing the riverbed.

Since Osmeña is planning to construct the road passing the riverbed, it would not be passable to vehicles during rainy days. For situations as such, he said garbage trucks will be directed to go back to the old sanitary landfill in Inayawan.

When asked on the owners of the lot, Osmeña said he does not have any idea yet, or whether it is owned by the Cebu province or by a private individual. But the barangay captain said the place is no longer owned by the province.

“There’s no problem, we have the right to eminent domain,” the mayor said, although he is not sure yet if this project would be completed during his term that will end on June 30, 2010. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (The Freeman)