Quiño to tackle garbage first

CEBU, Philippines - The collection and the dumping area of garbage in Compostela is one of the problems which members of the Municipal Council agreed to find a solution to.

During the special session of the Municipal Council, Engr. Carmelo Tejero, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator who is designated as head of the Solid Waste Management, said they lack garbage trucks and personnel.

 Tejero briefed the council about the status of garbage collection. Tejero also pointed out their problem about the dumping site. He disclosed that they stopped using the open dumpsite in Barangay Cambayog because of objections from barangay officials.

 Tejero said they used to dump garbage to an open dumpsite in Consolacion but this was also closed when a private sanitary landfill was opened in Consolacion. He said the Compostela Municipal Government could not afford to pay the P700-tipping fee collected by the operator of the private sanitary landfill.

 Provincial Local Government Officer Jerome Gonzales, who is the officer-in-charge of Compostela, had asked assistance from Fifth District Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI about this.

 With the help of Congressman Durano, Compostela started to dump its garbage at an open dumpsite in Carmen town. Tejero said that to minimize the volume of garbage in the town, waste segregation must be implemented through the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in the town.

 Vice Mayor Antonette Dangoy and members of the municipal council agreed to look into the problem. The lack of vehicles and personnel assigned to collect garbage is one of the concerns of the town officials.

 Mayor Joel Quiño said the problem of garbage collection and the lack of dumping site listed as one of the priority list under his administration.

 Quiño, Dangoy and members of the municipal council assumed office only last Tuesday because of the protest filed by former mayor Ritchie Wagas. — (FREEMAN)